MATTEO GOTTARDI IS THE FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF W.R.K, A FULL MENSWEAR COLLECTION HE BEGAN IN NEW YORK CITY IN 2011. BORN IN ITALY WHERE HE LIVED TO THE AGE OF 9, GOTTARDI IS NOT A FORMALLY TRAINED DESIGNER, RATHER HE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN FINANCE FROM NYU'S STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. 

GOTTARDI'S CAREER BEGAN WITH INTERNSHIP ROLES AT THE LIKES OF ARMANI AND DIESEL. UPON GRADUATING FROM STERN HE LAUNCHED AN NYC BASED BRAND AND RETAIL CONCEPT CALLED OPERATIONS WHICH HAD TWO FREESTANDING STORES AND SOLD AT BERGDORF GOODMAN, NEIMAN MARCUS, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE AND NORDSTROM. THROUGH OPERATIONS, GOTTARDI WAS ONE OF THE FIRST DESIGNERS TO TRULY CAPTURE THE WORKWEAR AESTHETIC - IMPORTING AUTHENTIC EUROPEAN WORKWEAR FOLLOWED BY THE LAUNCH OF HIS OWN PROPRIETARY OPERATIONS LINE FOR MEN AND WOMEN, EXECUTING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE LIKES OF LEVI STRAUSS. 

IN 2011 GOTTARDI LAUNCHED W.R.K, AN ACRONYM FOR WORK.REST.KARMA, A FULL MENSWEAR COLLECTION THAT EMBRACES HIS LOVE FOR MELDING FUNCTIONAL DESIGN DETAILS WITH CONTEMPORARY STYLING. W.R.K GARMENTS REFLECT HIS PHILOSOPHY OF PURPOSEFUL DESIGN WHICH BRIDGES FUNCTIONALITY WITH AESTHETICS WHERE NEITHER ASPECT IS COMPROMISED BUT RATHER BOTH WORK IN COMPLIMENT. W.R.K IS AVAILABLE AT NORDSTROM, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, NEIMAN MARCUS, SCOOP AND OTHER FINE RETAILERS AND SPECIALTY STORES NATIONWIDE. 

IN 2011 GOTTARDI ALSO FOUNDED HIS OWN PROPRIETARY DESIGN STUDIO, THE WRKSHOP WHERE HE IS THE DESIGNER BEHIND THE DESIGNER, CREATING COLLECTIONS FOR VARIOUS BRANDS INCLUDING THE LIKES OF VINCE CAMUTO, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, LEVIS, RYAN SEACREST DISTINCTION, THE MEN'S WEARHOUSE, ADRIANO GOLDSCHMIED, ROGAN, AND LOOMSTATE. 

"THE TRUTH IS SIMPLE: CLOTHES ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE TOOL AND THEREFORE, SHOULD BE PURPOSEFULLY DESIGNED AND WELL-CRAFTED. THEY SHOULD BRIDGE FUNCTIONALITY WITH AESTHETICS, WHERE NEITHER ASPECT IS COMPROMISED, BUT RATHER BOTH WORK IN COMPLIMENT. IT IS ABOUT CREATING SOMETHING PURE, SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO. NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE BUT WHAT WE ARE"

- MATTEO GOTTARDI