Maria Cornejo has been designing clothes guided by geometry since 1998 when she started her label Zero + Maria Cornejo in New York. The simplest forms of circles, tubes, triangles and rectangles are manipulated into minimal and architectural pieces that are never overwrought. This has brought her a fan base that includes Tilda Swinton and more recently Michelle Obama.

Therefore it is the perfect opportunity to introduce her work to the European customer with a special pop-up store at the Brachfeld Gallery in Paris. A capsule collection of archive styles as well as an edited selection of pre-fall 2009 pieces will be on sale. We speak to Cornejo about her temporary Parisian presence.
   
Dazed Digital: Why did you decide to 'pop-up' in Paris?
Maria Cornejo: My friend Ed Brachfeld, the owner of Brachfeld Gallery suggested we use his gallery for an event and we thought it would be a great space to do a pop-up shop. The collection is currently being sold at Joseph in Paris but we felt this was a good opportunity to properly introduce Zero + Maria Cornejo to the French audience and get them excited about it.

DD: How has your brand evolved from the beginning in 1998?
Maria Cornejo: Well the company has definitely  grown over the past eleven years but the core ideas behind the brand haven't changed. I'm still always looking for new ways to evolve my approach to design and make it new and challenging for me creatively.  

DD: What do you hope Parisian shoppers will get from this three week 'limited engagement'?
Maria Cornejo: We think the sensibility of the collection will fit very well in France so we're just hoping to broaden the awareness and let them know what we're about.

DD: Your style does seem to have a more European sensibility to it. How do you
feel you fit into the New York fashion scene?
Maria Cornejo: I was born in Chile, grew up in England, lived in Italy, Tokyo and Paris. My collection reflects that international eclecticism even though I feel the most like a New Yorker after living here for 11 years. In New York everyone has a different background and you're accepted for who you are which I really like. I think my collection reflects the easiness of the city.

Zero + Maria Cornejo Pop-Up store and exhibition at Brachfeld Gallery until July 11 (Mon-Sat 11am-6pm) 78 rue des archives, 75003 Paris