Bag Review : Matt & Nat Katherine

First off, I want to start by saying I'm always a fan of comfort over style (lifestyle blogger everybody hehe!). That being said, I like trying to find options both stylish and comfortable. One thing I don't like are bags that you constantly have to hold in your hand, or that don't sit nicely on the shoulder so you end up having to force a shoulder up to hold the bag. Am I the only clumsy person who just doesn't have the coordination required?

My favourite solutions to this are backpacks and cross-body bags. I use one or the other everything! I don't like the idea some people have that backpacks are for students and was determined to find a classy adult option (hint: there's loads!). And there was one in particular that I'd been eyeing : The Matt & Nat Katherine.

THE BRAND

Matt & Nat is a brand founded in Montreal (!) in 1995. They do all kinds of bags imaginable as well as wallets, travel accessories and shoes. I love this brand for so many reasons, but I was particularly impressed by their ethics and values. They do everything in vegan leather, and have been exploring materials such as recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber and cork. All their bag linings are made out of recycled bottles. Their prices are also decent, being not too high and not too low. What I also love love love is that they are easily accessible. You can find some of their range on Asos, and they offer free-delivery to EU addresses on their website.

THE BAG

I picked up the Katherine this summer when I was back home in Montreal. I figured I might as well go have a look in person when I was there! What I love about this style is that it's classy and simple, yet different. It's a black rectangle backpack made partly of vegan leather, partly canvas. The mix of materials make it stick out, and allow the bag to be a bit more supple. Also I don't have to worry about the irish rain ruining it. I've had a few months now to test it out and I've been pleasantly surprised with everything! It's a lot roomier than I thought, and feels very solid when I'm carrying it around everywhere while running errands.

This bag is very well made. The straps are in thick "leather" and feel very solid, which for me is always a priority when looking for a backpack. I had a strap break a few years ago and it almost cost me my camera... One other cool feature is that the straps are adjustable like a belt, so the buckles can't slide and get super loose. One easy-to-miss detail is that the little patch of "leather" at the front is actually a pouch. I use it to put my travel card, it's super handy. And one last thing I'm very picky about when it comes to backpacks is the closure. I don't like being that person at the till fumbling around draw strings and magnets, so the top zipper on this bag is perfect. It doesn't get stuck and doesn't feel flimsy at all.

PRACTICALITY

What I love about the Katherine is that its style doesn't take away from its practicality. It's big enough to fit my 13inch laptop and is rigid enough that it protects it. Also despite the rigid look, I was surprised at how much I can fit in the bag! Going shopping with a backpack is brilliant because I can put loads in it and never have to get disposable bags. Also, hands free! It's also quite easy to keep clean. If anything happens I can just wipe away the vegan leather and I usually use a sticky roller (?) to keep the canvas clean. And the last thing I find so useful is the zipper. Even though I find them very stylish, I hate using bags with drawstrings and magnets. I don't know if I'm alone in this but I always feel like it takes me ages at the register! So that's one plus for this one. All in all it's easy to keep clean and fits a lot of different uses and situations.

STYLING

Ahhh this bag. Honestly it's just my hero, and I'll tell you why: When the weekend arrives, I usually go around town running errands in comfy (but still decent!) clothes running errands and doing the things I can't do during the week. I find this bag is like a magic trick to making any outfit look more put-together. It goes well with my military jacket, my trench as well as over giant jumpers! Seriously though, I haven't found something it doesn't work with yet. My favourite way to wear it though is with my GAP military jacket and black leather ankle boots. Simplicity is key!

PRICING

At 160 €, this bag is well worth its price. It's not the cheapest but certainly not the most expensive of high-street backpacks and that one has all the nice features. Plus I much prefer encouraging sustainable brands!

LAST LITTLE NOTES

At the end of the day, this bag is one of my best purchases of 2017. It looks incredibly good while being very practical and I wear it whenever I can. I've had it for 6 months and it shows no signs of wear and tear whatsoever. I don't believe the leather/canvas option is available anymore but they have all-"leather" options in black and in brown. They ship worldwide from their own website, and some of their styles are also available on Asos!