Since recently graduating from college, I have been on the hunt for a new purse that is stylish and versatile, allowing me to wear it in both a professional and public setting. In the past, I have fallen prey to buying cheap, but cute purses that don’t last more than a year. Not only was this a waste of money, but a waste of resources. Every new purse required energy, people-power, and time to produce. Additionally, each discarded bag meant another piece of litter in the landfill.

But this time, I was determined to find a purse that checked off multiple boxes on my list of requirements. First, the purse had to be stylish (obviously). Next, I wanted the leather to be vegan because reducing the consumption of animal products is the most effective way to reduce your economic footprint. Finally, I wanted to find a brand that was cognizant of its impact on surrounding ecosystems and made efforts to limit any harmful consequences of production. That’s when I discovered Matt and Nat, which stands for Materials and Nature. The brand lives by the motto “Live Beautifully” which simply means “appreciating the humanity, creativity, and positivity found in all of us.” I don’t know about you, but that definitely resonated with me.

When further researching the ethical and sustainability standards that Matt & Nat follows, it is clear that they are going about modern production in the right way. The interior lining of the bags is made out of 100% recycled plastic water bottles. This is a brilliant way to reuse and repurpose what most people think of as trash. By doing this, Matt & Nat are participating in a circular economy. Practices that involve reuse are the most sustainable way for a company to go about production. The brand even encourages customers to donate bags they no longer want to dressforsuccess.org.

Now let’s talk about what you all want to know; how do I like my new purse? The answer is I LOVE IT! While you pay a premium price for Matt & Nat products, the material is of high quality and they are very well made. The vegan leather which the purse is made with is very soft to the touch but also holds the shape of the purse. The material is extremely durable and easy to clean if contaminated. More than a couple of times I have accidentally bumped my purse on something and each time I think my purse will be scratched, but it never is.

I also love the fact that I can wear this purse whenever! It goes with sporty attire as well as professional clothing. I am satisfied with the color I choose because it is easy to wear with most of my clothing. Plus it is big enough to hold everything that I need, which is a lot. I also ordered a second crossbody bag which I love equally as much! It holds far more than I ever would have expected.

Overall, I am overjoyed that I found a handbag brand with products that I love and which makes sustainability a priority. I hope you will consider Matt & Nat when making your next purse purchase!