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In the summer of 1992, I was challenged by a Mahatma to go vegetarian for 30 days. At the time I had no idea that this choice would have such an impact in my life as well as that of others. Three years later, I was completing a degree in marketing and corporate law when one of my courses required me to develop a business plan and go out to attain funding from banks. I came up with the idea of MATT & NAT, got a B on the paper and got zero ‘pretend funding’ from 2 banks. Nevertheless, feeling that this would be my life’s calling, I decided to forego the idea of attending law school and start a brand shaped by duality, the idea of creating beautiful things that have a positive impact. The characters in the acronym M&N represent this journey. Over Fifteen years later, our team is continuously working towards this goal, developing beautiful (we hope) products for people who appreciate a smart, unpretentious, socially conscious brand characterized by minimalist design and utility. Positive impact, every little bit counts! As has been the case since our humble beginnings, our line is cruelty-free, using no animal products. Veganism has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to fight global warming. As an example of the spirit and commitment of MATT & NAT, all linings of our bags and wallets are made of 100% recycled plastic bottles. In fact, on average we recycle 21 water bottles to make the lining of each bag. In 2011 we introduced cork labeling inside all of our bags, an innovative material in the fashion industry that is sustainable to the environment. Cork extraction is one of the most environmentally friendly harvesting processes in the world. Every now and then we also donate bags to women’s shelters around Montreal, feed the homeless people of this city a vegetarian meal and throw product out of our office windows to loyal fans. Design inspiration and sweating the details You can call it many things from boho-chic to minimalist design to utility fashion. It’s a design process that we’ve been developing since 1995 that focuses on the hidden details, the stuff that most people are captivated by but don’t necessarily notice. Architectural shapes with matte black hardware to cork labeling to pockets in the right places, all with an understated urban tone that speak to both men and women. It’s been an interesting ride to say the least, 2011 saw us become simpler, even more focused, back to basics with an emphasis on the next decade... thank you for coming along! Live Beautifully, |