Vegan bags no longer mean scratchy hemp or cheap-looking vinyl. MATT & NAT have created a line of handbags and small non-leather goods that are both eco-conscious and luxurious. Founded in 1996 by Inder Bendi, MATT & NAT bags are made almost entirely out of recycled plastic bottles – bags utilize up to 55 bottles each.

Spork Fashion checked out the Ando bag, a slim, oversized messenger bag with plenty of pockets. It has room for papers, magazines, even a laptop, all while keeping a smooth silhouette.

We spoke to Inder Bedi, the founder of Matt & Nat, about making fashion out of the unfashionable.

How did you decide to make bags out of recycled bottles?
The idea came from a material I found while travelling in Asia that was made from recycled water bottles and was being used to make windows for yachts.

How did you even find out that bags could be made out of recycled bottles?
We worked extensively with labs in Asia to develop fabrications that could be translated into fashion pieces. This process started 2 years ago.

What inspires your designs?
Every season is different. Spring was inspired by modern/minimalist architecture, strong elements and clean lines.

How do you decide on shapes?
As a design team we are continuously working on new shapes through out the year, some make it to the collection, some don’t.

Besides recycling materials, what are other ways that your company/factory/process is green?
Vegan leather in general is considered to be a greener alternative than traditional leather as the production has less impact on the environment when considering the tanning process, as well as the resources that go into raising livestock. MATT & NAT is also involved in other initiatives such as Dress for Success, which encourages consumers across North America to donate their slightly used bags to underprivelaged individuals. True recycling!

What is coming up for you? Plans to expand the line beyond handbags?
We would like to get into other categories over the next 2 years: belts, outerwear and eventually furniture.