New York jewellery designer Mateo launches first women's collection

Matthew 'Mateo' Harris might not be a household name in the fashion world yet, but that may just be down to a matter of time. Since setting up his eponymous jewellery label in 2011 at age 26, the young jewellery designer has enjoyed significant success with his popular men's collections, which combine utilitarian, urban motifs like screws, nails and mechanical wheels, with a wearable everyday nonchalance.
For spring 2015, the Jamaican-born Harris has made a distinct departure from his wheelhouse to launch his first women's collection, 'La Barre'. Elegant, discreet and refined, the debut range is predominantly comprised of slender gold bars that Harris has turned into delicate rings, bracelets and earrings. Decorated with tiny diamonds or with similarly thin rectangles of onyx and malachite, each piece exudes a distinct architectural quality.
'This collection started from one simple gold bar. I made a bracelet for myself, one thin gold bar bracelet. I wanted to make something minimal and clean. It’s chic, timeless and something you can wear everyday,' says Harris of his handmade pieces. 'I want to make affordable jewellery for my age group.'
Working on the women's collection allowed Harris to reassess his creative point of view. Now aged 29, the designer has consciously veered away from the statement motifs of Mateo's men's range, despite its continued success, and enjoys focusing on finer details. In the women's range, thin gold collar necklaces are finished with fine gold chains that hang seductively past the collarbone, while sculptural T-bar and parallel bar rings catch the eye with their subtle detail.
What makes Mateo's covetable pieces even more impressive is that Harris is completely self-taught. After moving from Jamaica to the United States at age 16 for his studies, and falling into modelling for a time, he worked in sales and marketing at a jewellery gallery in New York City when he had his light bulb moment. He explains, 'I realised that I actually liked this jewellery business, so I went to 47th Street [in Manhattan’s jewellery district], bought a sketchpad, bought wax, my tools and started to carve and design.'
At the moment, the designer is finessing his pre-fall 2015 collection, which boasts sculpted cage-like forms inspired by the architecture of Norman Foster (with which Harris quip he is 'obsessed'). It also uses the changing colours of autumnal foliage as another creative starting point. With collections timed to follow the fashion runway calendar, we’d recommend keeping a close eye on Mateo and all the surprises it has in store.
Since setting up his eponymous jewellery label in 2011, Matthew 'Mateo' Harris has enjoyed significant success with his popular men's collections
Launching for spring 2015, 'La Barre' is predominantly comprised of slender gold bars that Harris has turned into delicate rings, bracelets and earrings
For his first ever women's collection, the designer has consciously veered away from the statement motifs of Mateo's men's range
Thin gold collar necklaces are finished with fine gold chains that hang seductively past the collarbone
'This collection started from one simple gold bar. I made a bracelet for myself, one thin gold bar bracelet. I wanted to make something minimal and clean. It’s chic, timeless and something you can wear everyday,' says Harris. 'I want to make affordable jewellery for my age group'
Sculptural T-bar and parallel bar rings catch the eye with their subtle detail
The designer counts the architecture of Norman Foster among his inspirations
Decorated with tiny diamonds or with similarly thin rectangles of onyx and malachite, each piece exudes a distinct architectural quality
'B3D' bracelet with diamonds
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Puiforcat brings something new to the table with a wooden cutlery set
Jasper Morrison's collection for Puiforcat features cherry wood cutlery finished with fuki-urushi lacquering, a first foray into wood for the silverware company
-
A clifftop Rethymno house tells a story, framing views as far as the Libyan Sea
This house in Rethymno on the Greek island of Crete, designed by architects Gkotsis Serafimidou, is rich in local and natural materials – an oasis at which to disconnect
-
Waldorf Astoria Maldives rolls out a rare Ferrari joyride for guests
Waldorf Astoria Maldives, in partnership with Hedley Studios, allows guests to test-drive a scaled-down, all-electric version of Ferrari’s 250 Testa Rossa
-
All eyes on Greek jewellery brand Lito as it launches bold new amulets to mark its 25 years
Striking amulets, seductive stones and secret messages characterise Lito's striking new anniversary collection, an extension of its ‘Tu es Partout’ series
-
The best layering necklaces for an elevated yet casual look
How to mix, match and stack jewellery for the ultimate high-energy, low-effort style
-
From Cubism to Pop, artists’ jewellery goes on show in Palm Beach
‘Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection’ at the Norton Museum of Art showcases key pieces from an impressive collection
-
Nina Runsdorf brings classic jewellery back to life to mark 20 years
New York-based jewellery designer Nina Runsdorf celebrates her eponymous brand’s anniversary with a new jewellery collection, ‘Archive’
-
Ulla Johnson’s collaboration with artist Julie Hamisky on the A/W 2025 runway is blooming lovely
Ulla Johnson and French artist Julie Hamisky have created 12 new jewellery pieces for the designer's A/W 2025 runway
-
Offbeat placing, diamonds and cool cuts: Shahla Karimi’s architecturally inspired jewellery
Fine jewellery is given a cool spin by the New York-based designer Shahla Karimi, who riffs off architectural references for her eponymous brand
-
LVMH watch week 2025: everything we know so far
Our guide to LVMH Watch Week 2025, taking place in New York and Paris, starting 21 January; keep an eye out for our updates
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025: JB Blunk rings are sculptures for the hand
The JB Blunk Estate has partnered with J Hannah on the reproduction of four special rings