Ethical Fashion Blog

SWEET 16
SWEET 16
A family friend asked for an advanced order on our best-selling Spring dress, the Forget Me Not.  She needed it in time for her granddaughter’s 16th birthday.  We literally just got it in, so I shipped it out right away.  It hasn’t even gone live on the website (next week, after we send out our wholesale orders).  My mom sent me this pic of Ally in the dress, and she’s looking sweet in Mata spring.  What a cutie!  The dress is perfect on her.
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POOL IS COOL
POOL IS COOL
Emily and I recently got back from the Pool trade show at Mandalay Bay in Vegas.  Happy to say we made our sales targets (woot!).  We also saw some seriously fresh fashion.  My brain was a buzzin’ with all the trends –  totally ahead of the curve and everyone’s bringing out their true style sense.
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DECOR THAT DOES GOOD
DECOR THAT DOES GOOD
In our Fall 2011 collection we debuted Mata Home, a line of home decor featuring our trademark block prints with hand-stitched embroidery and applique.
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WHO WORE IT BEST?
WHO WORE IT BEST?

Our very cool friend, Claire, hosted her 4th Annual Cool Woman Valentine’s Day Brunch to raise money for the Rape Victim Advocates, and wouldn’t you know it, Michelle and I both showed up in the red Rendezvous skirt.  We loved this skirt so much in our Fall ’10 collection (Michelle’s version) that we brought it back for Fall ’11 (mine).

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OUR CUTIE FASHIONISTAS
OUR CUTIE FASHIONISTAS
I couldn’t resist taking this pic at the office today.  Kristin, our designer, on the left, was wearing these adorable floral shorts paired with a striped sweater, and Carmen, our new design intern, had a sheer minty green long skirt folded over and tucked into her waist with leggings.  Sheer draping is everywhere these days, even in the Mata office. I love that these girls are ON it and having their design input shows in our collections.
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CASUAL STYLIN’ AT THE OFFICE
CASUAL STYLIN’ AT THE OFFICE
Our fair trade friends over at Global Goods Partners have some really awesome products – check out these earrings made out of recycled bottle caps from Swaziland that Michelle got at the NYIGF show. She came in to the office rocking them today and I want my own pair NOW…we’ll have to wear them different days.
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FORBIDDEN LOVE
FORBIDDEN LOVE
Hettal married Suraj in the traditional manner of an Indian bride – bedazzled in an embroidered pink wedding sari, forearm to fingertip decorated with intricate henna designs.  But their love story is anything but traditional.  In a society where arranged marriage is the norm, Hettal and Suraj chose each other.  And, like the plot of a Bollywood movie, Hettal’s parents didn’t approve.  You see, Hettal is Hindu and Suraj is Buddhist.
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STYLE FILE #2
STYLE FILE #2
In the middle of winter we need layers to keep warm, but that can make it difficult to keep a sleek silhouette.  I’ve been wearing fitted turtlenecks under the majority of my dresses to solve that problem.  I love the stark color contrast of black against Mata’s teal ‘Japonaise Dress‘.  (I love the block print on the inside collar)
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OUR WALK TO WORK
OUR WALK TO WORK
Michelle is flying off to her honeymoon in Peru today.  In honor of that, I thought I’d share some pics from the last time I traveled abroad with Michelle.  It was our trip to India 2 summers ago to work with the cooperatives.  These photos were taken on the journey we took to work each morning.
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STYLE FILE
STYLE FILE
The colors in the ‘Jardin‘ dress are perfect for fall.  The crimson and chartreuse are vibrant, so I paired it with neutral accessories.  I couldn’t believe I had this fedora that just so happened to be the perfect color….match made in fashion heaven.
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PROJECT RUNWAY FOR A CAUSE
PROJECT RUNWAY FOR A CAUSE
Aid to Artisans is one of my favorite organizations – they connect talented artisan groups around the world with skilled designers and then market the lines here in the U.S.  It’s the fusion of the traditional craft sector with high end design that’s so darn awesome to me.
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