What do Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, and Steve McQueen have in common? At some point in their illustrious acting careers, they all wore some pretty good sweaters. These men were among the many who served as a reference point for fashion journalist and stylist George Cortina, who built his knitwear collection with MALO around them.

The twelve-piece collection adapts the timeless shapes and details of 1970’s costuming for a contemporary audience. Throughout the ensemble, Cortina displays both an eye for garment construction and a cultural literacy natural to a journalist of his caliber. Experimentation is present in each piece in the release, but the essence of both MALO’s brand and the reference are preserved beautifully.

The partnership collection features sweaters, polo shirts, and jackets, one of which is named after Cortina himself. Called the George Jacket, the piece connects the soft cashmere of MALO with a sharp, tailored appearance, inspired by a Savile Row piece from Cortina’s own collection.

“George has a rare, exacting eye, honed over a brilliant career, for what makes a piece of
clothing feel relevant rather than merely correct,” said Michelle Kessler Sanders, CEO of MALO. “I wanted an editor’s precise instincts to approach an archive of this size someone who knows what to sharpen, rather than believing everything must change. George found the current in our classic menswear without losing what made it classic.”