Ethical Fashion Blog

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.

SEEING GREEN ON THE RED CARPET

When I saw this photo of Academy Award-nominated actress Jessica Chastain, I did a double take.

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.

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).

INSPIRED DESIGN = DESIGN INSPIRATION

Marc Newson: I can’t help thinking jewelry design when I see this guy’s work. So many cool ideas, lines, and shapes…..I want to rework these into baubles! 2013 Spring is where we are heading now.

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.

SUSIEL, PLEASE DON’T LET THE CAMEL RUN!

Hi ho from India. I am still here and not only is it beginning to feel like I’ve been here forever, but it’s also starting to seem like I will be here forever. Delhi is the Washington D.C. of India – this capital city is dominated by New Delhi, designed by the British in the 1920s, and what is left of Old Delhi, designed by Shah Jahan in the 1700s. You can imagine the juxtaposition: New Delhi contains the house of Jarwahal Nehru and his daughter Indira (both 1970s versions of a more modest White House) and a wide double boulevard w/ trees, fountains, and yes, even grass, that leads from the India Gate to the Government Buildings, while Old Delhi contains the pile-up of hundreds of years of mosques, bazaars, four-story homes, havelis, tombs and temples. I last wrote from Pushkar, and while there we took a side trip to the Rajasthani city of Jodhpur, before heading further north to Bikaner.

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)

INTERVIEW WITH CO-OP MEMBER, NANDHINI

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

SPRING/SUMMER LOVE

About a month ago I had the pleasure of posing for Mata’s Spring/Summer 2012 catalog shoot. It was on location in New Buffalo, MI which I had never visited before, and it was absolutely perfect. The sun shining, the sand between my toes, and the clothes…the clothes! Mata is showing bright colors for the spring and summer, and it makes me happy.

The Chicago Uniform Project

In May 2009, Sheena Matheiken put on a little black dress and didn’t take it off for a year. Well, that’s not exactly accurate because I’m sure she took it off to sleep and wash, but the point is that she wore that dress everyday for a year and ended up raising over $100,000 for the charity Akanksha Foundation.

VISITING THE BLOCKPRINTERS

Maureen and Kristin are in India at the moment working with the co-ops on next Spring’s collection and even getting started on Fall 2012. This past weekend they visited one of the block printers where we source our fabric. Maureen said they got a lot of great photos and video, and it motivated me to finally get these pictures up from last summer when Michelle and I visited another block printer we use.

STRETCHING OUT SUMMER

This weekend is the “last weekend of summer” and I’ve been living it up and wearing my most summery pieces, as tomorrow is the last day to wear white…(does anyone follow that rule anymore?)

FAIR TRADE FOR TEENS!

Grab yourself a copy of the back-to-school edition of Justine Magazine on newsstands now. Justine is a national magazine filled with fun, positive, and empowering content for teenage girls. This month the mag features fair trade clothing from our Fall 2011 line, out this September.

Ethical Fashion Blog

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