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Why MATT™?

Everything begins flat, like a mat: a simple surface, a plan, a sheet of material. Before it is cut, folded, or transformed, that material already holds the possibility of becoming an object.

At MATT™, this idea is at the heart of the way we design. Our objects often begin with a flat material: a piece of wool felt, a precisely cut shape, a carefully considered pattern, a fold, a curve, a tension, a function.

Then, gradually, the material takes shape. A basket appears. A desk mat takes form. A catchall finds its place. An everyday object becomes more than a simple accessory: it becomes a presence in the home.

This is where the name MATT™ comes from. From one simple idea: everything we create starts flat, as a mat.

An architect’s approach

Before creating MATT™, I became an architect. That training continues to deeply influence the way I see objects.

In architecture, a house is not designed simply to be beautiful. It is designed to be lived in. We think about light, movement, materials, proportions, habits, and the way people actually experience a space.

Every detail has a reason to exist. A wall is not simply a wall. An opening is not simply a window. A material is not simply a finish. Everything contributes to the experience of the home.

With MATT™, I wanted to apply that same way of thinking to smaller objects. The ones we use every day. The ones we touch without thinking. The ones that support the simplest gestures at home: setting down keys, protecting a table, organizing a desk, creating a resting place for a pet, storing everyday items, or making a corner feel calmer and more functional.

Because an everyday object also deserves to be designed with intention.

Designing less, but better

We live in a time when many objects are designed to be replaced quickly. Trends change, collections follow one another, and synthetic materials occupy an enormous place in our homes. We buy quickly, replace quickly, and forget quickly.

MATT™ was born from a different intention: to create objects that are simple, useful, and durable. Objects we do not feel the need to hide. Objects that integrate naturally into the home. Objects that do not compete for attention, but quietly improve everyday life.

To me, living with less does not mean living with nothing. It means choosing better. Choosing objects with a real function, a meaningful material, a lasting presence, and a reason to exist.

Material before form

At MATT™, the material comes before the object.

Before designing a form, I always ask which material truly suits the intended use. How will it age? How will it be handled? How will it respond to daily life? Is it pleasant to touch? Can it last? Does it belong in a home we want to feel more natural, calm, and considered?

This is why natural materials hold such an important place in our work. Wool, felt, and natural fibers interest us not only for their appearance, but also for their presence, texture, and the way they age.

We are not looking for industrial perfection in the coldest sense of the term. We are looking for accuracy: the right material, for the right use, in the right object.

From surface to object

One of the things that fascinates me most about our work is the transformation of a flat material.

A sheet of felt may seem very simple at first. But as soon as it is cut, folded, or assembled, it begins to become structure. It is a very architectural process: a plan becomes volume, a line becomes a fold, a surface becomes a container, and a flexible material becomes a stable object.

In our pet baskets, for example, the material begins as a flat shape before being transformed into a resting space. The basket remains simple, almost obvious, yet every fold and proportion serves a purpose.

Creating an object from a flat surface requires restraint. You cannot hide everything behind padding, ornament, or unnecessary parts. The material has to work. The form has to be clear. The function has to be understood.

That is exactly what interests me.

Objects for real life

MATT™ is not trying to create precious objects that people are afraid to use. On the contrary, our objects are designed for real life.

A table with coffee marks. An entryway where keys are dropped. A desk used every day. A cat that always chooses the same patch of sunlight. A dog that circles before lying down. A home that is lived in.

A well-designed object should not complicate daily life. It should support it. It should be simple to use, pleasant to look at, easy to integrate, and durable enough to remain.

This is the idea that guides our work: creating objects that naturally find their place in the home.

A more natural home

Surrounding ourselves with natural materials is not only a matter of aesthetics. It is also a way of slowing down, choosing more carefully, and bringing materials with an origin, a texture, warmth, and presence into the home.

In an environment increasingly filled with plastic, synthetic foam, and temporary objects, natural materials offer a different relationship with the things around us. They are not always perfectly uniform. They may vary slightly. They sometimes require more thoughtful care. But they age alongside us.

At MATT™, this interest in natural materials is connected to a simple belief: the objects we see and touch every day influence the way we experience home. Even the smallest ones.

Why MATT™ exists

MATT™ exists to create thoughtful, natural, and durable everyday objects.

Objects designed with the same care we would give to an architectural space. Objects that are simple, but not simplistic. Objects that are useful, but also sensitive. Objects designed for people, animals, and the home they share.

The name MATT™ reflects that origin: a surface, a plan, a material, a starting point.

Everything begins flat.

Then the material takes shape.

And the object finds its place.

A final thought

We often think design is found in large gestures. But sometimes, it is found in the simplest details: the material we choose, a fold, a proportion, a texture, or the way an object supports a gesture repeated every day.

This is where MATT™ takes shape: between architecture, material, and everyday life.

Why choose natural materials for the home?
Understanding industrial wool felt
Why buy less, but better?
Why everyday objects deserve to be better designed

About MATT™

MATT™ is a brand founded by architect Kim Landry.

Through The MATT™ Journal, we explore animal behavior, natural materials, and thoughtful design to better understand what inspires each of our objects.

We believe the best products always begin with a deeper understanding of those who use them.

Why MATT™? Everything starts flat.