New York-based designer Maria McManus has given a new edge to sustainable fashion during the pandemic, reports Vogue. She has added an aggressive “edit point” to her practice, the designer says. “If the fabric isn’t recycled, organic, biodegradable, or sourced responsibly, I don’t use it,” she is quoted as saying. “It’s actually been nice to be this edited...”
McManus uses recycled materials even for her labels and tags. She makes her buttons out of corozo nuts. She also makes fashion credits read different.
The recycled cashmere and nylon that she uses are both certified by the Global Recycled Standard. Her organic cotton is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. It means that the yarns have not been treated with chlorine bleach, formaldehyde or other chemicals. MaManus’s merino is verified by OEKO-TEX and the Responsible Wool Standard. Her Lenzing Tencel fabric is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures responsible forest management.
Her website reminds of fashion industry’s contribution to pollution: “We are responsible for 20% of global water pollution, 10% of global carbon emissions and 25% of all chemicals created worldwide.”