The designer kicked off New York Fashion Week with a collection that reflects his personal and professional growth.
As I watched a recently uploaded Instagram video of one of Maxwell’s guests showcasing the show’s finale to the sound of Florence + The Machine’s ‘Dog Days Are Over,’ I couldn’t help but think of the note the designer released just a few days ago.
“I’ve spent the last few years working through mental health challenges and confronting parts of my life I’ve long avoided,” announced Maxwell in a social media post. “I felt this was really my most important work to do in that time. That work is ongoing, but now I feel more mentally in a place to reconnect—with the people who helped build this brand and with a new generation discovering it for the first time.”
Renowned for his red-carpet creations, Maxwell’s designs have recently evolved into sharper, more refined pieces, influencing and being influenced by his commercial work with Walmart. As he shared with The Zoe Report, “I started to ask myself, ‘What’s really important to me? And who am I?’ And I think ultimately, I wanted my work to speak for itself.”
The designer’s mission is clear: to create clothing that resonates deeply with his customers—pieces they can rely on for a sense of self. His goal is to craft garments that, through constant wear, become intertwined with the most meaningful stories of one’s life.
He concluded his interview with The Zoe Report by stating, “I’m ready to move on to a more joyful moment in my life and my brand.” And that’s exactly what we saw on the runway today, but in a more elevated form.
Celebrating his tenth year in business, Maxwell’s latest collection demonstrates just how far he’s come as a designer. The contrast between grief and personal growth is evident in the mix of textures, as well as the palette of blacks, whites, and baby blues. The designs are more modern, the cuts sharper, and the results better defined. Tulle skirts, chic dresses, impeccable tailoring with a creative twist, and maxi blazers, bags, and scarves all reflect the practical yet fashionable everyday life of the working woman.
Quiet power is once again at the forefront, proving that quality is timeless. Add in some clever details and sophisticated silhouettes, and we have a winning collection. Compared to some of his post-pandemic work, the silhouettes here are softer and more fluid, and the color palette feels less rigid—an embodiment of the joy Maxwell has mentioned.
In his show notes, Maxwell said: “a bridge to my future I go on now, with gratitude for what has been, the things that built me and almost broke me,” Though the collection focuses on elevated, timeless work wear, its deeper meaning transcends the 9-to-5. It’s about growth through adversity, finding strength in art and passion, and reinventing oneself.
