Leather goods are everywhere! The fashion industry is packed with them. However, the majority of leather goods in fast fashion have a horrible origin and a harmful effect on the environment.
Don’t even get us started on the animal cruelty behind the cutest purses. The market seems to be saturated with everything that’s unethical, unsustainable, and cruel.
That being said, there’s still good out there. You’re not the only one who wants to wear leather that doesn’t kill animals, endanger workers, and harm the environment. The demand for ethical, vegan, and sustainable brands has brought about many good ones, including Matt & Nat.
So, If you’re interested in knowing more about Matt & Nat and the best products it offers, keep on reading.
Who Is Matt & Nat?
Matt & Nat is an ethical vegan leather goods brand that’s considered a leader in the vegan fashion industry. Its name stands for material and nature.
The Montreal-based company was founded in 1995 by Inder Bedi, who always dreamed of a brand that is vegan, environmentally conscious, ethical, reasonably priced, and philosophically positive. It specialises in making high-quality, stylish handbags, shoes, accessories, and outerwear.
As an eco-friendly, vegan brand, it employs completely animal-free, recycled, and biodegradable materials. It replaces animal leather with the most environment-friendly fake leather: polyurethane. The brand also incorporates many recycled materials, such as recycled windshield, glass, resin, and plastic bottles.
In addition, the brand uses rubber and nylon because, as synthetic materials, they are practical, comfortable, and easy on the environment. The best thing about Matt & Nat is that it’s constantly reinventing itself and testing new materials to become even more sustainable in the future.
The vegan brand currently has over 800 boutiques across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Australia.
The company CEO Manny Kohli visits each one 2 to 3 times a year, along with audits that are conducted twice a year, to bond with the workers and oversee local managers, ensuring that the workplace is 100% child labour free, the wages are fair, and the workplace is clean and safe.
At a Glance for Women
- Willa Tote Bag – Best Tote
- Martel Messenger Bag – Best for the Working Woman
- Acacia Wedge Heels – Summer Choice
At a Glance for Men
- Dean Backpack – Best for Travelling
- Gabe Oxford Shoes – Classy Choice
The 3 Best Matt & Nat Products for Women in 2021
Let’s delve into the top Matt & Nat products for women, the details of each one, and what makes them stand out from their counterparts in the vegan, eco-friendly, and ethical fashion industry.
1. Willa Tote Bag – Best Tote
Many people like to argue about tote bags. However, you can’t argue with this: tote bags are the most useful. Their large size makes them a must-have in every woman’s wardrobe. Matt & Nat’s Willa Tote bag deserves a top spot among all-vegan counterparts.
Let’s start with the material. We can assure you that your non-vegan friends wouldn’t be able to guess that it’s vegan leather because of how realistic it looks and feels, even up close.
In addition, the bag is lined with 100% recycled nylon, which solidifies the brand’s direction towards reducing the environmental harm of the fashion industry.
> Read more: Best vegan tote bags.
If you’re a rigorous shopper, the Willa Tote bag is definitely spacious enough to carry everything you buy on the spot. It even has an internal zipper pocket to carry a smartphone or other valuables. The magnetic snap closure is perfect for when you have no time to deal with zippers.
In terms of style, the tote bag puts all the others to shame. As part of the brand’s vintage collection, it has a beautiful, subtle logo-embossed vintage patch. It also comes in four colours: black, chilli matte nickel, breeze, and seed.
Best Features
- 100% recycled nylon lining
- Magnetic snap closure
- Internal zipper pocket
- Spacious insides
- Four colour options
- Logo-embossed vintage patch
2. Martel Messenger Bag – Best for the Working Woman
Small purses are pretty cute and attractive, but you can’t wear those on your workdays or in college. Busy and working women need bags that are versatile and big enough to carry what they need with them, and that’s why we recommend the Martel Messenger bag.
The bag’s PU leather exceeds the real thing in every category. It’s more affordable, resistant to the elements, and cruelty-free. Plus, it’s low-maintenance, which means that it’s perfect for women who have no time to pamper a leather bag.
The 100% recycled nylon lining ensures the bag’s resilience and longevity. Plus, the use of recycled materials in such a reasonably priced bag means that we don’t have to pay a fortune to be environmentally conscious.
> Read more: Best vegan messenger bags.
We love the adjustable shoulder strap because long workdays need genuinely comfortable designs. The front flap with snap and velcro closure is perfect for protecting your belongings. Speaking of belongings, the bag has a 13-inch laptop compartment and smartphone pocket because we need them with us 24/7 in 2021.
Finally, the bag comes in three neutral colour options that cater to everyone’s tastes: black, chilli matte nickel, and olive.
Best Features
- Three colour options
- 13-inch laptop compartment and smartphone pocket
- Adjustable shoulder strap
- 100% recycled nylon lining
- Front flap with snap and velcro closure
3. Acacia Wedge Heels – Summer Choice
Now that we’re getting ready for spring and summer, sandals and wedge heels are coming out of the wardrobe. Yet, they need to be comfortable, stylish, and vegan in order to work out for you, and that’s why we choose the Acacia Wedge heels.
A lot of consideration went into the manufacturing of these heels. The PU leather outsoles and wedge will easily be mistaken for real leather. Unlike cheaper faux leather, these ones look expensive and real, and they do so without harming animals or the environment.
> Read more: Best vegan heels.
In addition, the heels are lined with thermoplastic rubber or TPR, which is a recyclable blend of rubber and plastic. We like it because it makes the heels comfortable to wear even after a relatively long walk. The adjustable back strap means that you can forget about sore heels, either.
The open-toe design allows you to show off your nail polish of choice. Finally, the heels come in three attractive colours: black, chilli, and koala.
Best Features
- Three colour options
- Adjustable back strap
- PU leather outsoles and wedge
- TPR lining
The 2 Best Matt & Nat Products for Men in 2021
Let’s jump into our favourite Matt & Nat products for men, their qualities, and what makes them belong on our list.
1. Dean Backpack – Best for Travelling
Every man needs a reliable backpack in his life. Backpacks are safe, convenient, practical, comfortable, and never go out of style. So, it’s important to have the best one out there, and there’s no better option than the Dean backpack.
Like most Matt & Nat products, it’s made of vegan leather that nobody would be able to tell apart from the real thing. However, unlike genuine leather, this PETA-approved one harms no animals in its production process.
Furthermore, the backpack is lined with 100% recycled nylon lining. It’s impressive to watch fashion brands make use of waste instead of contributing to more waste.
> Read more: Best vegan backpacks.
The bag’s adjustable shoulder straps make carrying it a breeze. Also, the side slit pockets and front zipper pocket are excellent for easy access to certain items.
The Dean has a 13-inch padded laptop compartment to protect your most important smart device. There is a zipper pocket and a smartphone pocket on the inside, as well.
Like the Willa Tote bag, it belongs to the brand’s vintage collection and has the logo-embossed vintage tag. Finally, it comes in five different colour options: black, chilli matte nickel, breeze, olive, and seed.
Best Features
- Five colour options
- Adjustable shoulder straps
- Side slit pockets and front zipper pocket
- 100% recycled nylon lining
- 13-inch padded laptop compartment, zipper pocket, and smartphone pocket
- Logo-embossed vintage tag
2. Gabe Oxford Shoes – Classy Choice
Everyone loves a dapper man that can dress well, and there’s no better way to show off your style than the right pair of shoes. Oxford shoes can instantly make you look like a gentleman. If that’s what you’re looking for, we recommend the Gabe Oxford shoes.
Once again, PU leather proves to be one versatile alternative to genuine leather. Whether it’s in a bag or a pair of shoes, PU leather is the choice that vegans never look back from. Plus, you won’t have to worry about getting the shoes wet or stained with vegan leather.
> Read more: Best vegan dress shoes.
The lace-up design is the classic way to go with these shoes. The choice of going with a wing-tip design and broguing makes the shoes pop in a room full of boring men’s shoes. Also, the inside of the shoes has a woven label with the logo. Like all Oxford shoes, it comes in two colours: black and brown.
We love how these shoes aren’t just for show. While they’re beautiful, they’re also practical, thanks to the traction that the outsoles provide, which makes the wearer more confident in his steps.
Best Features
- Lace-up look
- Woven label with logo on the inside
- Two colour options
- PU leather
- Good traction
- Wing-tip design with broguing
How to Choose a Matt & Nat Product
Maybe it’s your first time buying something from this ethical, vegan brand or your tenth one. Either way, here are a few tips to help you make the right purchase.
Material
Everybody cares about the materials of their bags and accessories. However, vegans care much more because if a product has even the smallest animal traces, vegans won’t even consider it. Thankfully, Matt & Nat is 100% vegan, sparing vegans the burden of research. Here are the synthetic and natural materials that Matt & Nat uses.
Synthetic
PU
Polyurethane or PU is the most popular leather alternative in the vegan fashion industry. Despite the fact that it’s a synthetic material, it manages to imitate real leather’s texture and appearance to the point that it takes a leather expert to tell the difference.
Also, from an environmentally-conscious point of view, PU is much better than polyvinyl chloride
or PVC, which does more harm than good to the environment. Plus, PU can be recycled.
Nylon
All Matt & Nat products incorporate nylon, and it’s for good reasons. Nylon is impressively lightweight yet has great high tensile strength. In fact, it’s known for having high abrasion and chemical resistance.
It’s also fast-drying, which is why Matt & Nat lines most products with it. What also makes it a good choice for the lining is its stretchiness and elasticity, meaning that it’s comfortable to wear.
Nylon can be a bit pricey compared to other synthetic materials. However, the quality it brings is worth every penny.
Natural
Cork
Coming from the thin shavings of the bark of oak trees, cork fabric combines the richness of leather, the versatility of fabric, and the durability that it brings to the table. It’s one of the most sustainable alternatives to leather, as it doesn’t require harmful harvesting. The cork industry prevents deforestation, as well.
While cork replaces leather, it can withstand things that genuine leather can’t, such as wetness, scratches, and stains. Unlike genuine leather, cork is pretty low-maintenance, although it’s natural.
In addition, cork stands out because it has a unique texture like no other fabric. It’s kind of a fingerprint where every cork product differs from the other, so it’s an edgy choice fashion-wise.
Organic Cotton
What’s an eco-friendly brand without a little organic cotton? Organic cotton is superior to regular cotton in every way. As the name suggests, it grows without pesticides, herbicides, or harmful chemicals that regular cotton needs.
Also, its crops are rotated from one soil to another, which makes it need 88% less water than its regular counterpart and is 80% rain-fed. Even the organic cotton fabric is naturally dyed.
The lack of harmful chemicals in its farming and manufacturing processes makes it better for the environment, workers, and wearers. It also leads to a softer yet stronger version of the cotton that you know. Plus, the fact that it’s hand-picked means that you’ll get the best quality.
Style
While vegans pay a lot of attention to materials and their sources, the style still matters because, at the end of the day, we’re talking about fashion. Matt & Nat offers a variety of styles in each category.
If you happen to shop a lot, a Matt & Nat tote bag would be the best choice. Mums will definitely benefit from diaper bags while working women can rule the world with satchels and briefcases.
For a hands-free experience, consider Matt & Nat crossbody and belt bags. Men who tend to be on the run will find a worthy companion in Matt & Nat backpacks and sling bags.
Bags aren’t everything that Matt & Nat provides a ton of options for. Women looking for summer fun can wear wedge heels, while workout junkies will enjoy the brand’s stylish sneakers. Men who wear suits occasionally can style them with Matt & Nat Oxford shoes and classy loafers.
Matt & Nat also provides a quality selection of vegan outerwear. If you want a slimming look, there’s no better option than a trench coat or utility jacket. On the other end of the spectrum, you can wear a bomber or puffer jacket for a cuter, cosier look.
FAQs
Is Matt and Nat a Canadian Company?
Yes! Matt & Nat is based in Montreal, Québec, Canada. It was founded by Canadian entrepreneur Inder Bedi. The current CEO and president of the company is the Canadian entrepreneur, Manny Kohli.
Is Matt and Nat a Good Brand?
Definitely! Matt and Nat is a PETA-approved, ethical, and eco-conscious brand. It offers excellent-quality, stylish products without the ridiculous price tags of high-end brands. You don’t have to pay a lot of money to wear something that doesn’t hurt people, animals, or the environment.
Is Matt and Nat Ethical?
Of course! As a brand that has over 800 boutiques across the world, it does a good job maintaining its integrity. The CEO visits all boutiques two to three times a year to monitor local managers. Also, an audit is conducted twice a year to ensure that everything’s done ethically.
Final Thoughts
We hope that our article on Matt & Nat has been informative and helpful. It’s a refreshing example of a brand that lives up to our standards of style, affordability, veganism, and fair treatment of workers. Here is a recap of our favourite products from this brand.
The best product for women is the Willa Tote bag. It’s huge but stylish and convenient, thanks to the use of an internal zipper pocket and magnetic snap closure, for shoppers or any woman who loves to go out ready.
Next, we have the Martel Messenger bag, which fits everything a woman needs to fit on her workdays, including a laptop and a smartphone. The adjustable shoulder strap is a nice touch, and the closure protects all the belongings efficiently.
The best product for men is the Dean backpack. It has a 13-inch padded laptop compartment, zipper pocket, and smartphone pocket, so you can carry the essentials and more. The adjustable shoulder straps are a no-brainer to have in a quality backpack, while the side slit pockets and front zipper pocket allow you easy access to what you need to retrieve quickly.
The second best product for men is the Gabe Oxford shoes. The PU leather makes them look like genuine leather shoes, while the broguing and wing-tip design look breathtaking. Finally, the traction proves that these shoes aren’t just about looks but also convenience.
