Chilean-born women's wear designer Maria Cornejo's career has spanned London, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo. She moved to New York City in 1996 and began her clothing line Zero, noted for its sculptural garments that are at once feminine, architectural, minimal, and modern. Cornejo's personal approach to her designs has won her a loyal following. Ignoring seasonal trends, she instead approaches her collections by continually refining her technique, developing dynamic and intelligent clothing that is both innovative and timeless. Cornejo was a Fashion Design finalist for the 2005 National Design Awards.