The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » matt and nat

Omnivore Discrimination & Fashion Pest Control

joshuakatcher — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:18:27 +0000

Two very interesting articles came to my attention today asking some complex questions - but don't think I didn't include a crafty response. • The New York Times is reporting on a trend and organization called "righteous fur" that has designers using Nutria, - a beaver-sized, herbivorous rodent native to South America that was brought to the United States by fur farmers in the early 1800's after their own species was nearly driven to extinction in their native habitat. Now, with many Nutria having escaped, the invasive species is threatening the coastal ecosystem of Louisiana! What are ecologists to do? Turn them into fur coats, of course and throw a fashion show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! Nothing could compete with the fashion industry's insatiable appetite for fur, or idiots looking for a rationalization to use it. After all, wearing fur makes you an environmental activist (just keep the whole cruel killing and toxic tanning process hush, hush). I'd like to follow this line of logic and ask why no BP executives have been turned into fur coats either? Or what about developers? Apparently we're the only species allowed to destroy coastal ecosystems without the threat of being turned into garments. Ok, ok, so the Nutria are being killed anyway to save the wetlands (I wonder what threatened industry is being helped under the guise of "saving the wetlands") and were being left to rot, so we may as well use them to make coats, right? Lets not feed them to natural, local predators like alligators or try a sterilization program. Lets follow this logic also - how come no one is using the 6 to 8 million dogs and cats that are euthanized every year in the United States - their fur is "wasted" too, no? And what about real NYC rats who are poisoned to death by the millions every year. I guess the question is really, is fashion going to save the coastal wetlands from an invasive species? The answer is, no, it's not any more than people making earrings out of zebra-mussel shells will save aquatic systems overrun by them. Invasive species are an unfortunate and nearly unavoidable consequence of global trade. There is no easy solution, but there are certainly people looking to capitalize on the "guilt-free fur". The unfortunate part of this is that these designers forget that fashion is a powerful form of visual communication - and the message that most people will see is "fur is acceptable and cool" and that is all. Let's also remember that it was the fur industry that got those wetlands into this mess in the first place - is reinforcing a demand for fur going to solve it? • Canada's National Post had a cover story on our friend and Discerning Brute, Inder Bedi of Matt & Nat, where a former employee (who chose to remain anonymous) attempted to file a humans rights case against the vegan company's no-meat policy at the office. Saying it's your human right to eat animals is like saying it's your human right to beat your kids. There are individuals who are injured and killed as a result of those actions, whose "rights" are never put into the equation in the first place. Is that too drastic? Ok, well there are certain things that are unacceptable in the work place. Masturbation, for instance, is not illegal, but in the context of a work environment, it is not considered good for business unless its a sex shop. In this case, eating meat at a vegan company's office is not socially appropriate. We live in a meat-dominated culture, and skipping meat for one meal a day is certainly not going to kill anyone (especially animals). My advice to the Anonymous Cry-Baby - get over it. You should be happy that a company like Matt & Nat has policies that protect the earth, the animals, and - whether you like it or not - your health. Go eat all the crap you want after work, masturbate and spank your kids, too.

Matt & Nat for Autumn, Undercover Animal Lover

joshuakatcher — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:00:24 +0000

• Matt & Nat's autumn "Faithless" bag in green and brown plaid, and "Braun" in coated khaki are both very warm and fetching accessories for any gentle-man. Also new is the "Mingus" backpack and the "Teller" and "Moller" in plaid. • PETA's recent undercover investigation into the sick experiments at Professional Laboratory and Research Services, Inc. (PLRS) has resulted in a major victory for animals. PLRS is surrendering nearly 200 dogs and dozens of cats and shutting its doors for good! Vivisection is inherently cruel and needs to be stopped. Learn more here.

May Contest: MATT & NAT!

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:55:17 +0000

Holy crap! I am so excited for our May contest. I wish I could enter it myself, but it makes me almost as happy to be able to give something like this away to one of our lucky, loyal readers. If you don't know Matt & Nat yet, where the heck have you been? Read our interview with the creative genius behind the line, Inder Bedi, and find out why everyone from fashion icons to celebs go ga-ga for his jaw-dropping vegan and eco-friendly accessories.

You can win this $350 bag, Blockhead, in a few simple steps:

Upload a video of yourself to Youtube explaining why you would never wear the skin of another animal, (click HERE for some tips) and what you think of The Discerning Brute and Matt & Nat. HINT! Creativity and humor are held in high-regard here at DB headquarters. Any format is acceptable, from songs to animations to annoying diatribes.
Send us the link to TheDiscerningbrute@gmail.com. The Subject line must read: MAY CONTEST: Matt & Nat (otherwise it may get trashed). Inder and The Discerning Brute crew will decide the winner, and not only will you will win the bag, your video will be featured on The Discerning Brute, as well as Matt&Nat's blog!
Include your name, what you do, and contact info so that we can send the bag your way.
Deadline is May 30th.
The winner will be announced on the blog June 1st.

Grey vegan canvas handbag with 100% recycled blue faux suede lining, tone on tone stitching, antique silver hardware, and MATT & NAT logo bar. The Blockhead features 2 main compartments with top zipper closure and 1 external zipper pocket on front. Interior includes zip pocket, cell phone and PDA pockets and 3 pen holders. Comes with detachable, adjustable shoulder strap.

Win a Gift from MATT & NAT for Ragging on the Fur Council!

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:00:18 +0000

Does it get any better than this? Matt & Nat, creators of amazing vegan accesories for men & women, is having a contest! The 10 BEST letters written to the Fur Council of Canada about the idiocy behind their Fur Is Green campaign will win a prize. The Directions are Simple: Email your letter to info@furcouncil.com (CC: blog@mattandnat.com) and tell them your thoughts on their ludicrous campaign, the top 10 letters will win a thank you package from MATT & NAT. DB's Advice: Research any claims you make in your letter, don't make any threats, and be creative and articulate!

Faux Ever: Inder Bedi of Matt & Nat

TheDiscerningBrute — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:00:41 +0000

Eight years ago, a designer with a penchant for architecture, subculture, and bold ethics launched MATT & NAT - a line of vegan accessories that is unabashedly tearing down any notion that you can't be fashion-forward and an environmentalist. Anyone who is only one or the other might just be lazy. Inder Bedi, the brain in which MATT & NAT both reside - and the 34 year old discerning brute whose headquarters are in Montreal, makes no apologies for his commitment to animal advocacy and environmentalism. His accessories are always totally vegan, and are increasingly made from recycled and sustainable materials. The fact that the new fall 2008 lines are gorgeously-serious, structured, edgy, and modish is enough to make anyone do a triple-take as you walk by - but compound that with the fact that these accessories consist of treated cardboard, recycled soda bottles, and vintage faux-leather and it's a recipe for handsome ethics. Like Marshall McLuhan, MATT & NAT isn’t just the bag; it’s the message. Discreetly or proudly, to carry the bag is to carry the message. The Fall 08 collection takes its cues from menswear with a deep color palette, emphasis on heavy hardware, and a narrowed focus on larger all-use carryalls. Such a focused collection makes a bold statement. No other line says it quite as strongly as CARTON. With the success of spring 08’s experimentation in eco-fabrics, MATT & NAT is now exploring the world of paper. CARTON is fabricated from treated cardboard and retails for $150 - $295. Featuring vintage synthetic leather trims, bags are available in either black or natural, with the choice of mix-copper or antique silver hardware. The line is unique, powerful, and for those wanting to make a statement. There’s no question about it, CARTON is progressive, both in design & fabrication. Perfect for those cold winter days, FEUTRE is a line of heather gray felt bags entirely void of animal by-products retailing for $225 - $295. A first for MATT & NAT, the felt is 100% recycled water bottles. Bags are available in a choice of two trims: coffee or cement gray Japanese paper with lead-free copper hardware and a dark tonal lining. Masculine, distinct, and bound to be a classic, FEUTRE is minimalism at its best. Another first this season, BELTS. Made from synthetic leather, the line is comprised of traditional unisex hip belts that retail for $100 - $135. What sets these belts apart are the buckles in varying metals. Industrial in look, with oversized screw accents, BELTS iterate the design elements of the collection, and reinforce MATT & NAT as an avant-garde. I had a few moments to interview Inder, here is our conversation: DB: What is your inspiration for the upcoming collections? IB: Architecture, cinema and music DB: How did Matt & Nat come to be? IB: A desire to put out a vegan line that represents balance between the two voices in my head (matt & nat), the voices that we hear all day that inevitably lead to the decisions we make every second…matt & nat strives to balance us as people as well as the worlds of fashion and positivity. DB: Who are some of your celebrity fans? IB: Nathalie Portman, Woody Allen, Heather Mills, Eva Mendes, Charlize Theron. DB: How has fashion affected the green movement, and vice versa? IB: Fashion has placed pressure on green to be more sexy (Kelly Green?), the green movement has asked fashion to be more responsible….weird question for me…been doing this since 1997… DB: Does Matt & Nat have an official position on using skins, feathers, and fur? If so, why? IB: matt & nat doesn’t….but I do…which inevitably effects matt & nat, it’s a fashion forward line of accessories that will always be vegan… DB: What is your biggest concern with the fashion industry right now? IB: The extremes of ethical fashion and unethical fashion and the lack of lines in between. DB: Are there any accessories you want to make that you haven't been able to include in a collection yet? IB: Belts, soon! DB: Why should every fashionisto & fashionista care where their accessories come from, what they're made of, and who makes them? IB: Because we vote with our dollars, whether we like it or not. DB: What's the worst thing that's happened to you as a designer? And the best? IB: Took many years before matt & nat got noticed - best and worst thing. DB: Fill in the blanks: Every single person should make a dramatic change in their life at least once a year. Cool is doing it before it’s done, Chic is not in my vocabulary.

Vogue & Mens Accessories

TheDiscerningBrute — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:15:30 +0000

1. The Mens Store at Matt & Nat offers by far, the best selection of well-made veg and eco mens' accessories that I have seen to date. My favorite bag is the Kravitz Brazen:

Also check out these handsome, cruelty-free adornments:

2. Vogue attempted to do an article about Mens' green fashion in their March issue. The article, "Good to be Green" gave friend of DB, John Patrick of Organic, a big shout-out (Yay Patrick!). Bramfod & Sons, Loomstate, and Earnest Sewn are mentioned, and whispers of the green capsule line from Theory are discussed, but clearly they didn't have me writing the article or it would have been much more thorough...(pats self on back). The deal on Theory is:

"...Theory is excited to announce our first-ever organic collection for Summer 2008. Made from certified organic materials, the capsule collection includes 24 styles--jackets, dresses, knitwear and more. Theory's organic collection will be available at Theory retail stores Barney's New York, and Holt Renfrew, and shortly to follow at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman in May."