Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
Mateo Mattia
“Every time I open a piece of leather, it’s like a puzzle,” says Mateo Mattia’s Matthew Demeo, who makes bags, wallets, watchbands, passport portfolios, and more at his workshop in New Rochelle. Designing and crafting each item by hand, Demeo is inspired by the natural grain and shape of the leather that he carefully sources from top suppliers, cutting out patterns carefully, to avoid waste. His approach is to make high-quality goods that last a lifetime, and customers are responding. “People are tired of things not lasting, tired of poor-quality goods,” he explains.
Photo by Ken Gabrielsen
ShoeCandy by Kara Mac
Be forewarned: ShoeCandy could become a dangerous addiction. This company, now with an adorable shop in Yorktown Heights, sells shoes (pumps, boots, flats, slides, and sandals) with a wide array of chic accessories to customize them. The shoes are made in Brazil, but the accessories — jewels, bows, tassels, and heel covers that easily and securely attach — are made locally, says founder Kara Mac, to shorten turnaround time from design to finished product, keeping choices on trend. Making repeated visits to the store (and website), to see what’s new, is a must.
Photo courtesy of Tidal New York
Tidal New York
There are so many reasons to feel good about wearing Tidal flip-flops. First, they’re made locally, in a bright and airy factory in New Rochelle. The flip-flops are also super-comfortable, made from polyurethane foam (the kind used in athletic shoes). Best of all, the company, started by brothers Tommy and Tim Gibb, is committed to hiring veterans, who now comprise half the company’s workforce.
