Matt & Nat is a Fully Vegan Brand

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Matt & Nat Brand Overview

Founded in Montréal, Canada in 1995, Matt and Nat is a pioneer in vegan accessories, and has recently moved into making footwear and clothing. They experiment with, and incorporate, innovative eco-friendly materials.

About Matt & Nat Vegan Shoes

"We have and will forever be committed to not using leather or any other animal based materials in our designs. Each season, we continue to explore and utilize innovative ways to improve our sustainable and eco-friendly ways, while still producing high-quality and timeless products." - Matt & Nat team

Are Matt & Nat shoes waterproof?

Matt & Nat has a line of rain boots and other waterproof women's footwear.

Is Matt & Nat an ethically vegan brand?

Matt & Nat appears to be an intentionally and ethically vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. According to the brand, "We have and will forever be committed to not using leather or any other animal based materials in our designs."

What materials are used to make Matt & Nat footwear?

Despite having an "Our Materials" page on their website, Matt & Nat doesn't give much information on what specific materials are used in each shoe. Most of their product descriptions list the main upper material that's used in the shoe, boot or sandal, which is typically either recycled PVC (their rain boots), PU, or PVB (polyvinyl butyral - from recycled automobile windshield resin).

Are the materials used to make Matt & Nat shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, some of Matt & Nat's shoes, boots & sandals are at least somewhat eco-friendly, as some models are primarily made from recycled upper materials, such as PVC and BVC. Matt & Nat does not currently use any tools or programs that quantify and share the eco-friendliness of their products, other than sharing vague overviews of the materials used in each shoe.

Does production of Matt & Nat shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Matt & Nat has, and what they do to remediate it. Matt & Nat does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in these areas.

Does Matt & Nat use green shipping methods?

It's unclear from their website if Matt & Nat uses net-zero or negative emissions shipping partners, either domestically or internationally. We’ve asked them for clarification, and are currently awaiting reply.

Does Matt & Nat use eco-friendly packaging?

It's unclear from their website if Matt & Nat uses recycled, recyclable, compostable, or other forms of eco-friendly and sustainable packaging. We’ve asked them for details regarding the materials they use for packaging, and are currently awaiting reply.

Can I recycle my Matt & Nat shoes?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if Matt & Nat’s shoes are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from the Matt & Nat team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my worn out Matt & Nat shoes?

We’ve asked the Matt & Nat team if they currently have, or are developing, a shoe recycling program, and are awaiting reply. In the meantime, Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired, donating them to someone in need, or taking them to a clothing recycling depot (if available in your city), which can strip them down to their recyclable components.

Where can I buy Matt & Nat shoes?

Matt & Nat shoes, boots & sandals can be purchased from their website, and can be shipped worldwide. They also have several branded outlets in Canada, and have their products available in over 800 boutiques across Canada, the United States, the UK, Japan, Germany and Australia.

Do Matt & Nat shoes ever go on sale?

Yes - there’s a “Sale” section of their website, and we noticed sales in the area of 40-50% when we visited.

Are Matt & Nat shoes ethically made?

The short answer is, it's tough to say. On their website, Matt & Nat shows that some of their footwear is made in Romania (it says in the specific product's description). But for most models, there is no mention of where it was made. Some of their other factories (such as for their accessories and clothing) are made in Asia. For the Matt & Nat shoes that are made in Romania, their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations. We've reached out for clarification from the Matt & Nat team as to where the rest of their shoes are made, and are awaiting reply.

Does Matt & Nat promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Matt & Nat gets mixed reviews from us with regard to their promotion/inclusion of circular economy principles. In the positive column, they incorporate many recycled materials into their designs, and employ (at least partially) fair labour. On the other side of the coin however, they produce their shoes far from their headquarters (which increases the environmental harm of shipping), and focus on making seasonal releases (which can result in a lot of wasted inventory).

Is Matt & Nat a charitable company?

Yes - Matt and Nat is currently selling their Hope Charity Bag, and donating 100% of the purchase price (minus taxes) to "various organizations worldwide that support humanitarian, environmental and animal rights causes."

Matt & Nat Footwear Range

Matt & Nat makes many styles of women's shoes, boots and sandals, as well as a selection of a dozen or so models of men's footwear. Their style can be described as primarily minimalist, elegant, professional and monochromatic, although they do have styles with flair and adornment. Many of their styles are timeless, while others are have a more modern slant to them, such as their chunky-soled Oxfords.