MATT & NAT makes stunning boots, flats, heels, sandals, and sneakers for women and men.
In 1995, Inder Bedi founded MAT(T)ERIAL and NATURE in Montreal, Canada, after realizing how limiting a vegan lifestyle was to access quality fashion pieces. The company’s shoe collection is now available at over 800 boutiques across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and Australia.
Price
MATT & NAT footwear prices start at $45 for the women’s ALBERTA Vegan Flip Flops up to $175 for the women’s KALLYA Vegan Over The Knee Boots.
Animal rights
MATT & NAT is a vegan-forward company—meaning that they’re not trying to hide that they’re a business that seeks to avoid animal suffering as much as is practical.
There isn’t much subtly about their values, as evidenced in their tagline: “vegan, cruelty-free, recycled.”
As a vegan customer, you don’t need to wonder if some of the range isn’t vegan or if they use animal-derived glues. And if that wasn’t enough, MATT & NAT has PETA-Approved Vegan certification.
Human rights
MATT & NAT has one factory operating under the SA8000 working standard. However, it’s unclear how many other factories they have that don’t meet these requirements.
The company’s transparency page isn’t very transparent. For instance, MATT & NAT don’t share where their suppliers are.
Good On You confirmed that MATT & NAT produce its products in small factories in China, and it’s unclear what measures the company is taking for human rights—outside of the CEO supposedly visiting each factory 2-3 times a year.
Materials
One thing is for sure—you won’t find any animal products in MATT & NAT shoes, but how do they stack up regarding sustainability?
While the company’s use of sustainable materials in shoe production is commendable, there are some areas where they could improve. For instance, MATT & NAT’s use of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) in some of their collections is less than ideal, as PVC is a non-biodegradable plastic that can release harmful chemicals into the environment.
Additionally, while their Purity and Dwell collections are made from PVB (polyvinyl butyral), a 100% recycled material, the hardware on these shoes isn’t recycled, which diminishes the sustainability of the overall product.
On a more positive note, MATT & NAT are working on using fruit skin fibers in their shoes, which will help reduce the company’s environmental impact.
Product line
MATT & NAT has a wide range of shoes for women and men, from casual and dressy to waterproof protection.
The women’s range includes:
- Boots
- Flats
- Heels
- Sandals
- Sneakers
The men’s range includes:
- Boots
- Loafers
- Sneakers
- Sandals
MATT & NAT don’t offer a kids vegan shoe range.
Payment and shipping
MATT & NAT is an online store based in Canada and ships worldwide. They have four international websites and offer USD, AUD, and EUR currencies.
You can pay for your order with Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
At the time of this article, MATT & NAT offer regular shipping—meaning the postage fees are calculated at checkout depending on where you want your shoes delivered. There doesn’t appear to be a free shipping option regardless of the size of your order.
MATT & NAT have 9 stores in Canada in addition to a wholesale program. So you could contact your local shoe shops to see if they could stock the brand. Be sure to Google “MATT & NAT Vegan Shoes {my city}” to check availability first.
Returns and exchanges
MATT & NAT offer a 30-day return policy, meaning that you can return or exchange the item(s) within 30 days of the purchase date in its original condition. All clearance or discounted items are FINAL SALE and are not eligible for return or exchange.
To start a return or exchange, you must fill out the online form and include your order number, name, email address, phone number, and reason for the return. You’ll then be given a Return Authorization Number (RMA) which will need to be included with your return.
MATT & NAT will cover the cost of return shipping if you received the wrong item, the item is damaged or defective, or there was a shipping error. If you return the item for any other reason, you’ll be responsible for the cost of return shipping.
Customer service
MATT & NAT’s customer service is good, but there are some areas where they could improve.
For instance, the company’s website doesn’t have much information about their products or how to care for them. MATT & NAT’s return policy is a little complicated, and there’s no phone number listed on the website, which could make it challenging to get in touch with customer service if you have an issue.
That said, MATT & NAT’s customer service team is responsive and helpful, so if you have any problems with your order, they should be able to assist you.
What could be better?
MATT & NAT falls short regarding innovative sustainable materials compared to other vegan shoe companies. While they use recycled materials, they could do better using more sustainable materials like fruit skin fibers. Additionally, their fair labor practices could be improved as they source their shoes from factories in China.
When it comes to shipping, MATT & NAT doesn’t offer free shipping, which could be a deterrent for some customers. Additionally, their return policy is a bit complicated, and there’s no phone number listed on the website, which could make it difficult to get in touch with customer service if you have an issue.
Despite these shortcomings, MATT & NAT is still a good vegan shoe company. They have a wide range of shoes for both men and women, and their customer service is responsive and helpful. If you’re looking for a pair of stylish and sustainable shoes, MATT & NAT is a good option.