Fashion and Math Collide at Max Mara's Spring Summer 2025 Show

Is mathematics truly just a dry series of numbers, devoid of magic? Ian Griffiths, creative director of Max Mara, would beg to differ. For Spring/Summer 2025, he embarks on a captivating journey through space and time, landing in 4th-century Alexandria, Egypt, the home of Hypatia—the first well-documented mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer. Max Mara has long been drawn to trailblazing women, those who break boundaries and open doors once thought impassable. This season, Griffiths takes on a new challenge: unveiling the hidden allure of numbers, physics, and mathematical thought. “We often overlook the technical aspects of fashion, but precision, calculation, and geometry are embedded in pattern-making itself. I wanted to infuse creativity into this structural approach,” Griffiths shares.

His vision translates equations into garments, where trigonometry becomes the guide for sartorial seams. These subtle, unexpected games of structure and form elevate the collection just enough, as Max Mara steers clear of excess. Shirts feature pleats shaped like arrows, artfully placed under the shoulders, buttoning in the back to reveal glimpses of skin through oval cut-outs. Some shirts extend into dresses, where side-gathered draping pays homage to the robes of Hypatia's time. The season’s dominant hue is a deep, rich brown—warm, intense, and effortlessly cool, offset by the striking touches of blue in denim looks.

At the heart of the collection is the jacket, styled over sleek knit dresses, tailored skirts, and chic shorts. “Jackets, alongside dresses, are the most versatile pieces for building a strong summer wardrobe,” Griffiths says in the pre-show, “You can take them off, throw them on, and pair them with anything.”