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Matt & Nat
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 over 800 boutiques across Canada, the United States, the UK, Japan, Germany and Australia.
ETHICS & SUSTAINABILITY
MATT & NAT stands for MAT(T)ERIAL + NATURE.
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.
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.