Amale Andraos on the Fashion Line That Inspires Her Architecture

In contrast to fashion’s often reductive constructions of female identity, the Zero woman is real, with all the complexities that this entails.

Amale Andraos Zero Maria Cornejo
Courtesy Zero + Maria Cornejo

I have been wearing Zero + Maria Cornejo since I moved to New York City in 2002. Maria’s clothes and design ethic were a big part of coming into my own as an architect and educator as well as a woman, wife, and mother. In contrast to fashion’s often reductive constructions of female identity, the Zero woman is real, with all the complexities that this entails. As a designer, I am always inspired by how her clothes come to life. Only when worn do they become strikingly present, taking shape along precise cuts and folds to create a unique structure for every person—a flowing environment for everyday life, work, and pleasure. If 2018 is the year fashion finally becomes feminist, Zero’s clothes will have led the way.

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