FOUNDED ON: MAAT’s Kate Carnegie on reflecting and living fearlessly in 2022
We’ve never been ones for New Year’s resolutions. What we can get behind though, is kicking off ‘22 with some solid foundations (fresh goals! strong values!). So we’re stoked to have chatted to 5 makers about the ideas their brands are built on and where they’re headed in 2022.
Hello and thanks for chatting to us! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I moved back to Melbourne / Australia in March 2020 after an 8 year stint in NYC working as a Freelance Fashion Director / Creative Director + Artist - working for global brands such as Nike, Adidas, Amarni, and publications such as Document Journal, V Magazine , SSENSE, Vogue and CR Fashion Book. The unpredictable turn of events that transpired after the first wave of Covid-19, saw me impulsively packing up my life in NYC and getting on a plane 3 days later !
Little did I know that it (Covid-19) was the much needed external ‘push’ I needed to transform. Arriving back in Australia I had a reason to be still, to have space in all its forms, and to see my life relatively objectively for the first time in a while.
What led you to start MAAT and what are the values/ideas it's founded on?
It became apparent whilst living in NYC that I couldn’t find a decent designed Yoga / Pilates Mat that was both contemporary in design, yet sustainable and ethically made.
During my first 14 days of quarantine (and the never ending lockdowns that followed in Melbourne) I started to really understand the importance of maintaining a balanced life for mental and emotional well-being .
MAAT’s simple philosophy was founded around inspiring new ways of being - committed to bringing more consciousness to everyday life. I wanted to inspire people to be their best selves because sometimes it’s hard to make the changes we most need.
'If we want to change the world, we must first change our world.’ - MAAT
MAAT was born out of this place.
What's the biggest lesson you've learnt while running your biz?
You have to be willing to make sacrifices- especially in such early stages of launching a business.
Surround yourself with people that believe in you and that want the best for you - that seems like an obvious one but some people really would just prefer you to say in the same comfortable spot.
How would you describe your approach to 2022?
To be open, to be grateful and to have no fear.
Who/what inspires you to keep doing what to do?
I don’t know what life is without creation. I’m inspired by the act, the process and feeling I get from creating - whatever its form.
It has been SO rewarding to build up a community for MAAT. It has been so touching and compelling to hear customers write in and thank us, hearing that MAAT has been the motivation and inspiration they needed. To be able to connect with people and inspire them… and ultimately bring value to their life is truly a wonderful feeling! This motivates me to keep doing it all.