Jamaican Designer Mateo Bijoux’s Industrial Strength Jewelry

Words by Summer Eldemire, Photos by Luca Khouri—

Montego Bay boy turned New York gentleman Matthew Harris, aka Mateo Bijoux, has quickly built his jewelry line by the same name into a recognizable brand. Mateo Bijoux is best-known for the zipper necklace which started his collection—and was notoriously spotted on Rihanna. It’s since been seen in W, Vogue and Instyle magazines and is sold in department stores Macys and Nordstrom.

Witty, honest and open, Matthew has a sharp sense of humor, poking fun at the fashion world of which he is a part—as well as himself—when we meet at his sunlit studio on New York’s Upper West Side on a casual rainy morning. “These Jeans are Saint Laurent, thats why they have the emaciated, rock and roll vibe,” he says, adding, “I was a club kid at some point, every Jamaican is”

His jewelry reflects that sharp sense of humor: He takes tools such as zips and scissors that are meant to be useful and makes them into non-functioning, but beautiful, adornments. “The moment you see a tool you recognize, that’s us,” he says.

He moves full throttle inside his studio, talking about “church shoes,” insisting I eat my macaroons and giving us a sneak preview into his future collection which, as expected, is even better than the previous.  All without once sitting on the couch for longer than 30 seconds. I don’t see this hurricane slowing down anytime soon.

Click here to read Summer Eldemire’s Q+A with Matthew “Mateo Bijoux” Harris.

LargeUp:  So what inspired your first collection?

Mateo Bijoux:  It started with the zipper necklace. And it actually zips! Then Rihanna wore it and everybody was like okay you need a full collection. It took me two-and-a-half years to really complete it. I don’t think its still even finished.

LU: Do you release a collection twice a year like most designers?

MB: We had two other collections out and we just pulled it right back in because we have to build a brand around one collection and build an identity first. The moment you see a tool you know, that’s us. The moment you see [jewelry with] anything industrial, you know its Mateo Bijoux.

LG: And how has the collection been received?

MB: It’s done well, especially in December we launched at Macy’s Herald Square. We were stocking the shelves and we literally sold out. Right there, on the spot.

Click here to continue.

LG : Tell me about your new collection..

MB: Its mostly inspired by Byzantine architecture. So I took cathedrals and architecture from that era but made it modern.  But one of the earrings is inspired by the horse carriages up by Central Park. I was walking by and I was like why isn’t this wheel an earring?

LG:  Do you wear a lot of your own designs?

MB:  None. I think I like looking at it as art. But to wear it everyday not so much, I only have on one watch and I wear a cross. My mom got me a cross and I always wear it.

LG: So what designers do you wear?

MB: I  used to wear a lot of… I call it nonsense. Because it wasn’t timeless. I feel like I was a club kid at one stage, every Jamaican is. Oh god, every year I would change it to some other brand. Which was just ridiculous. And some of it might still be online!

LG: You said you did some modeling when you first started in the States?

MB: I did a little. You have to have patience for modeling. I don t have any patience, I want it all and I want it now. I’m always pushing myself. I can’t do anything else. I have to make jewelry.

Click here to see more designs from Mateo Bijoux.