MATT & NAT

OUR STORY

Some ideas sneak up on you as if they were always meant to be. The idea behind MAT(T)ERIAL and NATURE originally came to life in 1995, in beautiful Montreal. We’re passionate and in awe of the world that surrounds us. Being inspired by MAT(T)erial and NATure means exploring the synergy between the two, the reflection of one on the other.

At Matt & Nat, we live by a simple motto, “Live beautifully”. Living beautifully means appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us. Our values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity and, of course, love. We are inspired by the textures and hues of nature and, to better protect it, we aim to constantly better our ways.

From the start, being committed to not using leather or any other animal-based materials in our designs felt natural to us. Each season, we continue to explore new innovative ways to remain sustainable and eco-friendly. Over the years, we’ve been experimenting with different recycled materials such as recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber and cork. Since 2007, we’ve been committed to using linings only made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. We have also recently introduced recycled bicycle tires to our collections.

Matt & Nat collections can now be found in boutiques across Canada, the United States, the UK, Japan, Germany and Australia.

ETHICS & SUSTAINABILITY

MATT & NAT stands for MAT(T)ERIAL + NATURE.
M&N is a vegan brand therefore there are no animal products used in production.
In 2010, the UN reported that the best way to protect the environment is to adopt a vegan/vegetarian diet, given the harmful effects of factory farming.
The linings inside all MATT & NAT bags are made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles.
In addition to being vegan, sustainable materials are constantly sourced in design such as cork and rubber.
The head office in Montreal, Canada is a ‘cruelty free’ zone. On the last Friday of every month the staff hold a vegetarian potluck at which time employees’ birthdays are celebrated with vegan cupcakes!
Various vegan leathers are used in production, the scientific terms are PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinylchloride). PU is less harmful for the environment than PVC and we make it a point to use it whenever possible. We continuously try to improve the standards for all our materials. One of our factories operates by the SA8000 standard and we hope to make this standard a bigger part of our production going forward.
We visit diligently each factory and build strong personal relationships with their owners; they too are a part of the Matt & Nat family. This involvement in the making of our bags ensures integrity every step of the way.
MATT & NAT design and produce their own custom hardware.
Over the years, some great brand ambassadors of M&N have included Nathalie Portman, Fearne Cotton, Olivia Wilde, Charlize Theron, Rory Freidman, Emily Deschanel and Adrian Grenier.
MATT & NAT encourages their team to volunteer as much as possible, when schedule permits.
MATT & NAT encourages upcycling. If you haven’t used it in the last six months, someone else can! Donate your used bags to the following organizations:
- salvationarmy.org
- dressforsuccess.org

OUR MATERIALS & PRODUCTION

It’s important for us not to use leather. Simply put, we don’t like hurting animals and we care about the welfare of the planet. Our collections are all designed by our close-knit team in Montreal, Quebec. We develop prototypes and collections based on our sketches, using our signature vegan leathers and using eco-friendly materials like recycled nylon, cork and rubber. The bags are then produced in China, in small factories we’ve had long-standing relationships with. We only collaborate with factories that are in line with our ethos and verify regularly our operations are up to standards. We make sure the factories we work with qualify for the SA8000 standard certification.

Various vegan leathers are used in production, the scientific terms are PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinylchloride). PU is less harmful for the environment than PVC and it’s use is definitely preferred, whenever possible. In addition to being vegan, sustainable materials are constantly sourced in design; these include recycled nylons, cork and rubber. Moreover, all our linings are made of 100% recycled bottles. Approximately 21 plastic bottles are recycled for every bag we produce.

We strive to design timeless and durable styles. Each season, several quality control tests are performed on all new styles. We also appropriate ourselves these styles and test them in our daily lives. By doing this, we test the wear and tear of our materials and make sure that our bags are as functional and resistant as they are fashionable. The designs are well thought out and meant to be practical. Furthermore, thanks to their durability and strength, our bags can last a very long time and, hence, are sustainable products.

TRANSPARENCY

OUR FACTORIES: WORKERS MATTER, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Building personal relationships with each of our factories is important to us. We regularly visit diligently each factory and make it a point to build strong bonds with the owners; they too are a part of the Matt & Nat family. We make sure that while we provide you with a quality product, the conditions of the workers developing it are up to par with our standards.
One of our factories operates by the SA8000 standard, which ensures quality work conditions for all. We hope to make the latter a bigger part of our production, in the future.

EACH SEASON, NEW INITIATIVES

With each season, we make it a point to offer our customers the cutting edge of ethical and eco-friendly fashion. Our materials are consistently improved and updated with composites that are less harmful for flora and fauna.
Our materials are always vegan. PU is always preferred over PVC, as it is less harmful for the environment. More renewable materials like cork and rubber are also frequently used in our designs. All our linings are always made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles; on average, that represents over 120 000 recycled bottles a year.

IN SIMPLE TERMS

Live beautifully is our mantra. Its meaning is broad yet easy to understand; simply put we take care of our planet as it takes care of us. We love the environment and aim to work with it to offer you sustainable, ecological and highly fashionable accessories.

“We are not perfect but we aim to better ourselves with time. The vegan spirit of Matt & Nat will live on. Our learning journey has just begun.” – Manny Kohli, President & CEO