Maria McManus Fall 2025: Finding Calmness
Since the November election, sustainable luxury designer Maria McManus has been trying to retreat into calm and embracing introspection — a form of preservation amid disbelief of how the new administration is “rapidly shaping an American oligarchy,” which opposes the the sustainable and equitable society her fall show notes read.
“I don’t think we have all quite figured out what our response is, so I think this was mine — everything is wrap-y, cozy and cocoon-y. You’re trying to give people those warmer, happier, elegant moments in the antithesis of what’s happening in the external world,” McManus said during her intimate fall presentation. “All the tears were shed; you have to get ready for the fight ahead.”
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Through fall, she sought to create clothes imbued with soft, elegant craft that provide protection for her female clientele, while continuing to inspire change toward more sustainable practices.
Her stellar vest-meets-caped-sweaters in responsible alpaca, piled with matching, wrapped-up scarves, certainly provided the warmth she was after, also through lengthy turtleneck knit dresses and little V-neck responsible wool-cashmere jumpers. Little luxuries for day included an organic cotton baby T-shirt; organic cotton bow-leg jeans with deadstock pockets, linings and recycled metal trims; a great recycled cashmere swing coat with leather collar, and a strong assortment of the polished, quiet tailoring McManus has become well-known for.
Heritage craft brought it all together, as seen through an oversized lace T-shirt dress, crafted from Dentelle de Calais Caudry 200-year-old lace and Australian shell buttons or a sensual black mock-neck lace number knit from FSC-certified viscose stretch yarn.
The looks were styled with beautiful jewelry in collaboration with Ashley Moubayed, founder and creative director of Don’t Let Disco. Totems with pebbles, rock crystals and hematite pearls, and rare stone beaded necklaces furthered her message through strands of prehnite (to bridge heart and will) and tiger’s eye (for soothing strength), phantom quartz and natural beach stones.
Launch Gallery: Maria McManus Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection
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