WBLK Sable Series Sponsored By Hennessy: Matti Rouse

Hey, it's Yasmin Young and I'm teaming up with Hennessy to highlight black-owned businesses right here in Buffalo and Western New York as part of the WBLK Sable Series sponsored by Hennessy. For this edition, I talked to Stevo Johnson, owner of Matti Rouse, an urban sophisticated lifestyle brand that has been worn by a number of A-list celebrities and featured on BET. Check out our conversation below:

For folks who aren't exactly familiar with Matti Rouse, what is it?

Matti Rouse is an urban fashion line with European culture. I say European culture because I was inspired by the European fashion designers for the brand.

When was the brand founded?

The brand was founded in October of 1997.

So you've been around for a very long time.

For 23 years we've been the oldest clothing line in Buffalo. First and oldest.

Talk a little bit about what you offer at Matti Rouse.

We offer custom coats, like custom shearlings and mink. I also have the leather line, which includes leather face masks, duffle bags, book bags. We have the accessory straps that hang off the jeans, wallets for men and women. I'm just still designing and there's still new stuff to come. On top of that, we have t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and the line has expanded to the point where I have no other choice but to look at getting a brick and mortar store.

That's a good position to be in!

COVID has taught me a lot and I've always been a person who's been successful at reinventing myself. When reinventing yourself, you kind of have to think outside the box to make things work.

For someone who wants to check out your line and support Matti Rouse, where can they do so?

They can go to www.mattirouse.com.