Compassion in a Purse

Inspiring compassionate funky fashion. Does it get any better?

A Handbag Empire Built on Compassion

Inder Bedi has often told the story of how he built his handbag empire.

The 37-year-old founder of Matt & Nat vegan accessories was asked at age 18 by a Hare Krishna priest to go vegetarian for 30 days:

"And it changed my whole life," he says.

Almost 20 years later, Bedi's Via Vegan company is thriving, although he won't provide numbers. His faux leather bags, belts and wallets under the Matt & Nat label (www.mattandnat.com) are sold in Canada, the U.S., U.K., Italy, Germany, France and elsewhere -- in perhaps thousands of shops, Bedi allowed.

"It's not about the numbers. It's about the people that we touch. I meet someone who says, 'I love what you guys stand for."