MATT BERNSON

Made in Brazil

Matt Bernson is based in Tribeca and designs luxurious sandals for women inspired by the ocean, travel and his fiance’s style. Every piece is hand produced in an artisan workshop in the south of Brazil. After graduating from Indiana University with a Business Finance degree, Bernson skipped the finance career and took on odd jobs as he honed his interests. During a trip to India in 2005, he stumbled upon local sandal craftsmen and picked up on the idea of comfortable but embellished sandals.

With a design focus on elegant-casual constructions – where "downtown meets the beach" – the brand has gained a significant following among closely-watched celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Leighton Meester, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, and of course, Gisele. Whereas "Sex + Comfort" remains the ultimate priority, the designer believes his loyal customers naturally "live beyond trend."