Founder / Creative Director

My entire life I have wanted to be a better version of myself. A version that is powerful and confident. Someone unstoppable and capable of doing anything I put my mind to. I continuously seek to know myself in any way I can. Who is Maria? What are her likes and dislikes? What motivates her? There are many avenues to discovering oneself, one of mine is through clothing. From a young age, I understood that what I wore would determine how I felt about myself in that moment. I had an instinct for what I liked and what suited me and I understood that clothes had the power to make me feel happy.

MY INSPIRATIONS

I grew up observing my glamourous, Italian mother meticulously dress herself. She would plan her outfits for those special occasions and her bedroom would transform into a live fashion show, which was so much fun! My mother grew up in the 1950s and photographs of her youth would remind me of the iconic fashion trends of the era: cinched waist skirts, oversized coats, and feminine pearl accessories added a dose of true glamour. Film stars of the 1940s also inspire me when I am in the design process. Particular icons of the period include Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn with their high-waisted, wide-leg trousers, and Rita Hayworth, in elegant cocktail dresses and calf-length skirts.  

THE START OF MY CAREER

My curiosity for design began at 8 years old when I was caught cutting my mother’s hand-knitted shawl because I wanted to turn it into a skirt. She caught me red-handed with a pair of kitchen shears and a big smile on my face. Although she was not happy, she appreciated my enthusiasm and eagerness to create something for myself. I would go on to sketch clothes in my school notebook, and I enjoyed wrapping scraps of fabric around a small mannequin to create outfits that inspired me. As my hobby grew, I knew that fashion would be the career path for me.

 EARLY DESIGN DRAWING 

MY CAREER

At The London College of Fashion, I studied Fashion Design and Clothing Production. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to work for a multitude of high-end design houses from Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham, Roland Mouret, and many more. This is where I was able to perfect my craft as a creative pattern cutter and fashion designer. I have worked on several red carpet events and created garments for catwalk shows. I have made bespoke garments for high-profile clients and celebrities from, The Princess of Wales to well-known actors.

MY UNIQUE DESIGN PROCESS

My love of art goes hand in hand with my love of fashion. Once my sketches for my garments have been designed, I will then drape the fabric over the mannequin to contour the body and I begin to sculpt the shape according to the folds and natural movement of the fabric. This is my unique way of working, by using my intuition to guide me as if I were creating a piece of art.

MY NEW BRAND

Today, I am excited to launch my new collection under my name MARIA GENCO. It has been a long time in the making and I am happy to be able to share this collection with you. The collection is designed to make the wearer feel confident, empowered, elegant, sophisticated and bold. The garments are statement pieces, versatile, and can easily be coordinated to be worn in many different ways. It is intentional that I have combined both masculine and feminine elements into the designs, by introducing oversized tailored jackets integrated with the softness of the geometric sleeve. In addition, strategically placed details have been added for garment adjustment, as well as design accessories. Our fabrics are sustainably sourced, luxuriously soft fabrics and are of premium quality, produced in Italy and the UK.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO

Photographer: Richard Maidment, info@richardmaidment.com

Make-up artist: Solange Dias, solangekoniak@gmail.com

Model: Alexandra Pinheiro, instagram pinheiro.alexandra