Founded in London by graphic designer and art director Jess Howard, Matere honours simplicity and functionality in stationery. Finding a lack of stationery that spoke to her tastes and values, Jess drew on her experiences in design and everyday life, alongside her penchant for unique materials, to create a range of products to be enjoyed on a tactile and sensory level.
Matere products are designed for discerning stationery lovers who value high quality design and thoughtful details with an uncompromising sustainable ethos. Distinctive materials, quality craftsmanship and a considered, minimalist aesthetic are at the heart of everything we create.
As a remedy to the chaotic nature of life in a busy city, Jess found herself drawn to calming spaces, understated design, minimalism and conscious living. While her life became more digitised, solace was found in off-screen experiences and purposeful interactions with the physical world became more important.
The Matere range seeks inspiration from beautiful imagery, authentic materials and an understated sentiment. Design choices reference architecture and interior design, graphic design, travel, nature and the slow living philosophy.
We have selected some of the best papers in the world for our uniquely tactual stationery, ensuring each product meets our high standards - from sophisticated, understated design aesthetics to unwavering environmental criteria.
We work with a small handpicked selection of UK based specialist makers and manufacturers, who share our commitment to craftsmanship and detail.
Lay flat Notebooks
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Various binding methods have been tested, adapted and refined to ensure the Matere notebook is of the highest quality. It is important to avoid the need to press any pages down as you write or sketch, so we use section sewn binding finished with a thin layer of cold glue for effortless flexibility, allowing pages to open with ease and rest completely flat.
The term Matere ['Mat-air'], an English word from the Latin māter refers to the essential matter or substance that something is composed of and its essential characteristics. This underpins the level of thought inherent in material selection and the full product journey. We value the idea that considered style should not exist without equally refined substance. The ‘matter’ matters – to experience and delight in, without costing the earth.
Strong environmental values are intrinsic throughout everything we do. All of our paper-based materials have been sourced using proven sustainable forestry such as FSC certification. We also ensure these are fully recyclable.
During the development process, we focused on finding highly sustainable materials and suppliers. For our first range, we chose to use paper made from recycled coffee cups for two of our softcover notebook covers (Khaki and Kyoto print). This innovative process ensures all plastic is removed and used for other purposes, before forming a beautiful new paper sheet from the remaining pulp. Single-use coffee cups are usually non-recyclable and would be destined for landfill without such a process.