About Matthew Harris of Mateo New York

Matthew Harris of Mateo New York

Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the son of a seamstress. He arrived in the US at the age of 16 to attend college. After completing his studies, he discovered his true passion in New York City – the art of jewelry making. Being a self-taught designer, he spent much of his time in the jewelry district learning and perfecting the art form.

After honing his craft, Mateo New York was launched in March of 2009. The brand began solely focused on men's jewelry, with the first collection pulling inspiration from the concept of a working man's toolbox. After the success of the men's collection, a women's capsule collection was introduced shortly after.

However in 2014, a strategic decision was made to refocus the brand, and thus the women's fine jewelry collection was launched. The fine jewelry collections bares our true aesthetic of simplicity and minimalism, drawing inspiration from modern art for the modern woman. Each piece is made from precious metals with a consistent use of diamonds and gemstones.

Today the brand is sold in some of the best retailers worldwide including Net-A-Porter, Matches Fashion, Browns, Farfetch, and 1stDibs. The brand is also featured regularly in renowned fashion publications such as American Vogue, Vogue Paris, W Magazine, The New York Times Style Magazine, Marie Claire, Elle, Allure, WWD, and InStyle.

Mateo New York was selected by the Smithsonian Museum to be featured and sold at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016, and the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017.

Following the elevated direction of the brand, there has been tremendous growth allowing us to open our first flagship store in the heart of SoHo, New York City in December of 2016. We were also a 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist.

Much of Mateo New York's success is due to a continuous effort in making modern, relatable fine jewelry at an approachable price point.

Worn by Icons

MATEO has become a quiet fixture on some of the world's most recognisable names. From Rihanna and Beyoncé to Zendaya and Michelle Obama, the collection has been worn by women whose influence extends across fashion, music, film and culture.

The relationship between MATEO and celebrity style began early in the brand's story, when Rihanna wore one of Matthew Harris' original pieces shortly after the label launched. Since then, MATEO has been worn by Serena Williams, Megan Thee Stallion, Ayo Edebiri, Amanda Seyfried, Doja Cat, Millie Bobby Brown and Janelle Monáe, among many others.

Rather than designing for a particular moment or personality, Matthew's approach remains rooted in the same idea that has shaped MATEO from the beginning: modern jewellery with simplicity, character and permanence. The fact that the pieces continue to find their way onto leading figures in fashion and culture is a reflection of that versatility.