Matt & Nat store at the West Edmonton Mall offers the brand's colourful signature vegan leather goods.KATHERINE CALNAN PHOTOGRAPHY/Courtesy of manufacturer
Sustainability is top of mind in the apparel industry today, but it’s a concern that’s been at the core of the Matt & Nat brand for 25 years. Founded in 1995, the Montreal-based company is a pioneer in producing vegan leather goods. A portmanteau for materials and nature, Matt & Nat works with various types of vegan leather, including polyurethane and PVC, alongside recycled nylons, cork and rubber. All its linings are made of 100-per-cent recycled bottles, an initiative that has resulted in the recycling of more than six million bottles every year.
Today, Matt & Nat is stocked at more than 800 stores around the world, including 13 stand-alone stores in North America. Last fall, the brand opened a new boutique at the West Edmonton Mall. There, you’ll find its signature vegan leather goods in designs that are minimal in form, yet playful in colour, as well as long-time bestselling styles such as the Brave and Mumbai backpacks and the Drew and Triplet crossbody bags. The store also features an eyewear display customized to this specific location.
For its spring collection, Matt & Nat was inspired by the concepts of being timeless, pure and invigorating. Upbeat colours and simple silhouettes differentiate tote bags, belt bags, backpacks and satchels. Launching later this spring is the annual Hope charity bag, a newly designed, black crossbody style available exclusively online. One hundred per cent of the purchase price is donated to select global charitable partners who support humanitarian, environmental and animal-rights causes in an initiative that has raised more than $230,000 to date.
Matt & Nat, West Edmonton Mall, 8882 170 St. NW, Edmonton, 587-356-2606, mattandnat.com.
Courtesy of manufacturer
Matt & Nat Erika Crossbody Bag in Mojito, $95.
Courtesy of manufacturer
Matt & Nat Leona Crossbody Bag in Liquid, $98.
Courtesy of manufacturer
Matt & Nat Drewmed Crossbody Bag in Ceramic, $60.
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