“You have to have purpose and passion in life, and jewelry was it for me!”

Michelle Obama, Zoë Kravitz, Kerry Washington, Emma Roberts, Kate Bosworth, and more. For Matthew Harris of Mateo New York, it’s anA-list goes on and on! For good reason – the fine jewelry designer has cornered the market with exquisite, collectible creations for those who crave sophistication and luxury with a modern aesthetic. Born and raised in Jamaica and self-taught, the designer credits his mother, a self-taught creative herself, as  his inspiration. The brand also includes leather handbags and scented candles that adhere to the same streamlined modern appeal. Harris was a 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist, and his brand can be found on many luxury e-commerce retailers such as Net-a-Porter, Matches and Farfetch,  to name a few. It is only up from here for Harris and Mateo, which is derived of the designer’s first name, and means “gift from God.”

To whom do you owe your influence for designing fine jewelry?

I believe you must have a purpose or a passion in life. It is something that you cannot live without, breathe without, or sleep without, and jewelry just happened to be it for me. My mom was a dressmaker in Jamaica here in the U.S.; you may call her a seamstress. I watched her being creative with fashion and turning water into wine per se. I grew up with that level of creativity, so it was just natural that jewelry and creative design became a passion of mine. That is how the jewelry brand really started. I wanted to make great personal jewelry for myself, because I could not find anything on the market that I truly adored. I began making jewelry and people desired more. Rihanna wore a piece, and it was literally a snowball effect, and that is how Mateo commenced.

You have been in business for quite some time now. Have you had to face any challenges during the onslaught of the pandemic and COVID-19?

I must say it was a blessing for me. When COVID happened, it really woke me up to…“ok, we have a problem, how do we find a solution or resolution?” I immediately turned away from social media and emerged myself into photography and ecommerce tutorials. I did this turnaround rapidly and we had a 649 percent growth last year during the start of the pandemic. Our ecommerce skyrocketed, and I have been one of the rare fortunate ones where success and growth during the pandemic has been my narrative.

What advice or words of wisdom would you dispense to an emerging or fellow jewelry designer that would love to have the opportunities and success that you have proclaimed?

What I always say to people….Make sure you always find a blank space in the market, in any market that you decide to get in to. I think it is crucial and it is vital. People must need you or want you or else why come into the space? That is always my first advice. Second advice: Research! Research! Research! Third thing, be persistent, be patient, and very perseverant. That is always my go to.

WEB: www.mateonewyork.com

IG: @mateonewyork