Zero + Maria Cornejo opened in 1998 as a purely retail concept when, prompted by a desire to re-connect with the core of her ideas about design, cutting and garment construction, Chilean-born designer Maria Cornejo transformed a raw space in New York's Nolita into a very personal store and atelier named Zero.
The name was an expression of a pure vision: a number that neither adds nor subtracts; it is, rather, a point of departure. Spare, modern, architectural, minimal, feminine, and unpretentious are all words that have been used to describe Maria Cornejo's work for Zero and each season she reaches into her own international experience (having lived and worked in London, Paris and now New York) to develop a collection that is unexpectedly simple yet based on sophisticated cuts and angles. Using volume and circular shapes as a starting point; garments are often draped and cut from one piece of fabric.
A subtle evolution process, Maria continually develops her techniques from one season to the next to create dynamic and intelligent clothing for women. Aside from women's ready-to-wear, Zero + Maria Cornejo's growing product categories include handbags, accessories; and now shoes and boots in collaboration with Eileen Shields.
In 2005, Maria partnered with long-time friend and colleague Marysia Woroniecka to form a new company to expand the Zero brand and in May of 2006 they opened a second directly operated store in New York's Meatpacking District. The line is sold in leading stores around the world such as Barneys New York, Holt Renfrew in Canada; Ikram Chicago and Blake Chicago; Mac San Francisco; Dover Street Market London and Tokyo; and Joyce Boutique Hong Kong.
In February 2009, Zero + Maria Cornejo moved its Mott Street store after 10 years to the home of its new flagship store/showroom/atelier at 33 Bleecker Street, New York.
Maria Cornejo was honored as a Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award Winner in 2006.
