The international accessories brand Matt & Nat (from MATerial and NATure) lives by a simple motto: “Live beautifully”. Living beautifully means appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us.
According to the website, their values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity and love. They claim to be inspired by the textures and hues of nature and, to better protect it, they aim to constantly better their ways for a more sustainable product.
The design is modern and minimalistic, hence trans-seasonal.
MATERIALS
They refuse to use leather or any other animal-based materials in their designs. Each season, they continue to explore new innovative ways to remain sustainable and eco-friendly. Over the years, they have been experimenting with different recycled materials such as recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber and cork. Since 2007, they have been committed to using linings made out of recycled plastic bottles. They have also introduced recycled bicycle tires to their collections.
However the basic materials used are PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinylchloride), which are oil-based plastics and can not be certified or truly sustainable in any way.
REMARK
Matt & Nat achieve to give a more sustainable alternative of not animal based products, with a minimalistic and modern design. But refusing to use leather, they are dependent on using oil-based plastics, which is – as far we know – not sustainable, but an understandable compromise.
However they are constantly searching for new materials and I am sure, that they will use an alternative, as soon as possible. They already use more sustainable materials in some parts, such as the recycled lining. Sadly there is no sustainable alternativ to leather yet. But the decision to not wanting to harm animals is, of course, a good one and new materials will be found to replace leathers. In future they will hopefully be cellulose-based, thus bio-degradable.
Personally I do not especially like the picture of flowers, they show as a material picture, while using hardly any natural materials what so ever. But as I mentioned earlier,the brand is constantly searching for more sustainable ways, which is an honest and target-aimed approach. And I strongly believe, that this honesty and transparency should be acknowledged.
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
