Mateo

New York City

Matthew Harris of Mateo was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He discovered his true passion in New York City - the art of jewelry making. A self-taught designer, he spent much of his time in the jewelry district learning and perfecting the craft. Mateo New York was launched in 2009 focusing on men's jewelry. After the success of his men's line, a women's capsule collection was introduced with a fine jewelry collection shortly after. The design's aesthetic is simplicity and minimalism, drawing inspiration from modern art for the modern woman. The brand is carried in retailers worldwide Bergdorf Goodman and Moda Operandi and has been featured in Vogue Paris, The New York Times, and W Magazine. Mateo was also selected by the Smithsonian Museum to be featured and sold at the African American Museum of Art and Culture.

Meet the designer

Tell us about yourself and how you came to be a jewelry designer.

My mother was a seamstress, so I grew up with creative at my finger tips. I became a jewelry designer honestly by accident. It was truly a selfish desire to make pieces for myself. I could not find great men’s jewelry. I started going to the jewelry district in New York City where I started asking questions and learning the craft. Rihanna wore a piece and then suddenly retailers where asking for a full collection.

What is your creative process? Walk us through each stage - from coming up with ideas/themes/concepts you want to explore, to translating that into an artistic vision, to creating the physical pieces and collections.

I don’t do mood boards. My creative process always start with looking at modern art, but I could be on the subway and see a woman heading to work and be inspired. A sketch is then conceived. I sketch on anything from a napkin to my notepad on my iPhone. Designing jewelry is such a beautiful and magical process. I love how a simple sketch can be transformed into something so precious.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I am inspired by modern and contemporary art. Some of my favorites include: Alexander Calder, Wassily Kandinsky, Xavier Veilhan to name a few. My ultimate it goal is make great personal jewelry, pieces to be worn on a daily basis. I don’t believe in making jewelry for only special occasions. I am truly inspired by the aesthetic of simplicity and minimalism. It’s the way I live my life.

Who is the Mateo woman?

The Mateo woman is truly an individual. She is strong, independent, intelligent, and has her own personal style. She does not follow trends. I believe she is today’s modern woman.

What is your daily jewelry uniform?

There are just pieces that I never take off. I love our diamond huggies with pearl drops. I almost never take them off. Only the drop I will remove based on my mood or outfit.

What is the most sentimental piece of jewelry you own?

I am a true romantic and bit dramatic, so after every break up, I get a piece of jewelry. Those are quite sentimental. It represents a new beginning/chapter.