Maria McManus presented her Spring/Summer 2027 collection at New York Fashion Week, bringing together memories of childhood summers in Ireland, the rave and music culture of the 1990s, and a contemporary sense of romance. The collection also takes cues from Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls and The Lonely Girl, two novels about young women coming of age in 1960s Ireland.
Born in Dublin, McManus lived across Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia before settling in New York. She launched her eponymous label in 2020, after years in the industry left her increasingly concerned about fashion’s environmental impact.
Image by Lune Conte
Image by Lune Conte
Around 90 percent of each collection is sustainably certified, made from organic, recycled or responsibly farmed fibers sourced from Europe and Japan. Production focuses on reducing water and chemical use, minimizing waste and keeping the supply chain traceable.
“My process always begins with materials,” McManus says. “At first this was limiting, as there were so few interesting certified materials. Now there is a huge amount of material development in this area, which is exciting for me as a founder and creative, and for the world at large.”
That attention extends to construction, with as much care given to a garment’s interior as its exterior, and pieces designed for fit and longevity rather than a single season.
Image by Lune Conte