Matt and Nat Logo
Matt and Nat Logo

Some two years ago, when my little website was really just a blog, I wrote an article about Matt and Nat, a Canadian Accessory Company that is vegan in thought and in deed. I wrote this article at a time in my life when I was really searching to understand what being vegan means to me. I am still in the process of educating myself about my own veganism and now my AR activism,  a search that likely will continue until the end of my days.

I was pleased as punch to learn that in March of this year,  Matt and Nat  expanded their line of vegan accessories to include shoes. I am in heaven over this, because finding non leather shoes has been quite the job, considering that there is not much of value out there and especially considering that I have well, funny, hard to fit feet. There will even be an actual shop opening up in Laval, QC -not too far from my neck of the woods. Buying shoes online just  does  not work for me, taking into account the aforementioned funny, hard to fit feet.

Anyway, long story short, this wondrous announcement from Matt and Nat caused me to revisit one of the first articles I created as a fledgling vegan writer. I fixed the formatting, tweaked it a bit and here it is for your perusal. I hope that you enjoy this little blast from  a  Quebec winter gone by:

Originally Posted March 14, 2014

Our Winter-y Front Yard
Our Winter-y Front Yard
Our Winter-y Back Yard
Our Winter-y Back Yard

Would most of you agree that the weather is one of the safest topics to talk about with just about anyone? We Canadians do like to talk about our winters. And let me tell you, the weather is on everyone’s minds these days. This and many other areas of the country are having one heck of a winter. It is unusual, because in and around Montreal, we don’t regularly get winters like this anymore. The snow started early, well before Xmas. We have had quite a few cold snaps  and the snow is with us still. This is what my front and back yards looked like just one short week ago.

What a difference a day can make, especially at this time of year.  It is + 2 Celsius (35.6 F) today and the snow is melting , but the weather people tell us to expect another ten centimeters (3.9 inches) of snow tomorrow .

When I was kid, back before they had electricity (LOL), our winters were more like the winter we are still experiencing. I was shorter then, but not by much, and I remember having to look up at the snow banks on the edge of our property. I remember walking to school in quite cold weather and  not expecting spring weather until well into April.

What a nice winter we are having this spring,

is a clever little phrase that makes me laugh at our impatience for warmer weather. Spring will come guys, and soon we will be complaining about the heat and the brown grass on our front lawns.

Having said that,  if any kind of ritual could hurry things along, perhaps it would be this vegan ritual of mine:

The Changing of the Purse

Fall/Winter Matt and Nat Purse
Winter Matt and Nat Purse
Spring/Summer Matt and Nat Purse
Spring/Summer Matt and Nat Purse

Away goes the black fall/winter purse, out comes the blue spring/summer purse. If you wake up tomorrow and the sun is shining, the birdies are singing and the air is warm, you can thank me and my spring/summer purse change up.

Before I became vegan, I had quite a collection of purses. Some of them were leather and others were not. After all, one must have a purse to match one’s outfit, the season and the occasion. There were small purses, big purses, funky purses, conservative purses and on and on. In  deciding to divest myself of the leather, I began to realize that there is a big difference between a want and a need.

Why not get rid of all the purses that I don’t really need, even if they are not leather?

And that is precisely what I did. In reducing my wants and my needs, I now have a fall/winter purse, a spring/summer purse, a nylon backpack, two fancy going out purses, as well as a small fabric purse for really fancy. I also made the decision to put aside the lovely leather Chanel wallet that Littlest Sister gave me a few years ago.

As it turns out, lightening the load of possessions is incredibly freeing. There is less to take care of and less to replace. But when I do need to replace a purse or a wallet, which is not very often now, I always support Matt and Nat.

Here are some tidbits from their website.

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!

Annie’s Vegan View

Having a personal space that reflects my life as vegan is important to me.

Making a smaller environmental footprint is important to me.

Realizing that stuff is just stuff leaves more room in my life to advocate for the end of the exploitation of all species for our wants, not needs.

May all beings be happy and free.

Anne
Matt and Nat: A Cruelty Free and Vegan Canadian Company

4 thoughts on “Matt and Nat: A Cruelty Free and Vegan Canadian Company

  • March 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm
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    I Love Matt & Nat! And there is something freeing about not owning so many possessions these days but knowing the ones I do have, all have special meaning!

    Reply
  • March 30, 2016 at 6:31 pm
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    Hi Sheila,
    Good to connect with you on my website and thank you for commenting. Yes, Matt and Nat, Matt and Nat, Matt and Nat. Gotta love Matt and Nat. I have some items which have special meaning to me -most of them come from my mom.
    Take care,
    Anne

    Reply
  • April 1, 2016 at 11:17 am
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    The vegan market is an excellent market for business and investment. Us vegans – growing in number – need the products and yes, not just food products, but quality and fashionable products that contain no animal components AND are cruelty free covering cosmetics, footwear, clothing, soft and hard furnishings and cars with vegan interiors and paints. Oh and I am still searching for hair colourings that cover gray! Vegans are good business.

    Reply
    • April 2, 2016 at 11:11 am
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      Hi Susan,
      I am always glad to hear of companies who espouse vegan principles. I also am happy that these companies help to educate non vegans on the beauty of consuming without doing intentional harm to other species. Having these companies go mainstream is key.
      Take care,
      Anne

      Reply

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