Meet Brittany Matyas of Brittany Matyas Leather Goods in Atwater Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Matyas.

Brittany, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always sewn, I’ve always made things and created art since I was a kid. For years, I was working a very corporate fashion job that wasn’t very fulfilling in the creative sense. I’m the sort of person that needs to be constantly working with my hands and constantly making things. Pretty much one day, I was so fed up with the job that I just decided I needed to start my own business. I had worked with leather in the past making leather jackets and clothing and such for my own personal projects and I always felt this draw to leather craft. I love everything about it, how it smells, how it feels, techniques when working with it, its versatility… all of it. Subsequently, I quit that job, taught myself the art of bag making and thus began Brittany Matyas Leather Goods.

Three years later, I not only create leather bags, but also guitar straps, camera straps, and other various leather goods. The majority of what I do is custom work and I love it because it never gets stale and there’s always something new and artistic to achieve. I’m still a one-woman show where I do literally everything from design, pattern drafting, cutting, sewing… I even do all my own photography (unless otherwise credited), all my marketing tools, my logo, even my website are all designed from scratch and maintained by me. I love it and honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Keeping steady, consistent business is always a struggle for independent brands. The ebb and flow can be hard to predict but you just have to keep with it and know you will get out what you put into it.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the sole owner, designer, hand maker, marketer, photographer and every single thing in between for Brittany Matyas Leather Goods. I create one-of-a-kind leather products that are couture art pieces that are accessible to everyone. I make leather bags, guitar straps and camera straps with a strong lean to custom goods that make them truly unique. I specialize in geometric designs, bold colors and a cool aesthetic.

The custom guitar straps that I make are great for musicians self-promotion. It’s really interesting to hear what people want on their straps, what they want to project to the world. How they want the world to see them. It can be their form of self-promotion, so to speak.

I’m proud that I can make a product with my own two hands that is personalized and stylish, but also something that will last you a lifetime.

What were you like growing up?
I was pretty shy growing up! I was also a super crafty kid, always doing art, painting, playing violin, I did ballet and modern dance, stuff like that. I was super into clothing and music as well. Art was always a heavy influence in my family, my brother is a successful concept designer, so I grew up in a creative home my whole life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brittanymatyas.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @brittanymatyas
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrittanyMatyasLeatherGoods

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