Port Chester resident Matt Demeo discovered the leather goods industry while studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
“While I was there, I decided maybe corporate fashion wasn’t the right path for me, and I enjoyed making things more than just designing them,” said 36-year-old Demeo.
That decision led him to create Mateo Mattia, a handcrafted leather goods company based in his hometown of New Rochelle in 2013.
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Demeo makes leather accessories like bags, wallets and belts in his studio. He enjoys working with leather because of its long lasting, durable nature.
“If it’s well taken care of and well preserved, it could last generations, and that’s kind of what I look to strive for. Something that is built to last,” he said about his handmade pieces.
Demeo also has a collection of hand-painted pieces that give the standard leather products a unique look.
You can currently find his goods at the Make Your Mark[et] Holiday Pop-Up in Irvington, or visit his website at www.mateomattia.com.
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester NY craftsman Matt Demeo creates leather accessories
Reporting by Tania Savayan, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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