In a quiet studio tucked into the industrial heart of Portland, Oregon, Elise Hartman sketches with the precision of an architect and the heart of a traveler. With a career spanning over 15 years in functional fashion design, Elise has become known for her ability to blend purpose and polish—creating gear that doesn’t just work but feels right. Her latest creation? The MATEIN NTE Series backpack.
The NTE Series didn’t begin with fabric swatches or CAD sketches. It began with an airport delay.
“I was standing in the TSA line at JFK, fumbling with my laptop, trying to unzip a bulky bag while keeping my boarding pass in my mouth,” Elise laughs. “It hit me—we deserve better tools for the way we move today.” That moment inspired the foundation of the NTE series: smart travel made effortless.
Design that Moves With You
What followed was over a year of obsessive iteration. Elise and her team tested zipper angles, pocket placements, and weight distribution, working toward a design that would adapt to multiple modes of movement—from commuter trains to cross-country flights.
One of her biggest priorities was creating something TSA-friendly without compromising structure. “You shouldn't have to unpack your entire life at security,” she says. The NTE backpack’s clamshell design, which unfolds a full 180 degrees, was born from that insight. It lets laptops lie flat and undisturbed through checkpoints—a detail you won’t appreciate until you absolutely need it.
But this wasn’t just about function. For Elise, color is its own language. The NTE comes in seven carefully curated hues—ranging from charcoal gray to a more expressive denim blue. “I wanted the colors to speak to people at different speeds,” she explains. “Whether you're a student sprinting to class or a quiet creative catching a yellow-eye, there's a version of the NTE for you.”
Storage With Soul
As a designer who often starts with how something feels to use, Elise focused on intuitive organization. “I think backpacks often fall into the trap of either being too minimal or a jungle of zippers,” she says. “We wanted something balanced—space where your gear has a place, but you’re never hunting for your phone charger like it’s a needle in a haystack.”
The result is a beautifully orchestrated pocket system—hidden stash zones, a sleek laptop sleeve, and even a dedicated pen holder because, as Elise insists, “there’s something human about still carrying a pen.”
A Backpack for the Way We Live Now
Elise calls the NTE “a bag made for people in motion”—whether that’s a college student hauling textbooks and tech, or a parent juggling a passport, a water bottle, and a toddler’s emergency snacks. “Designing gear today isn’t just about what it holds,” she reflects. “It’s about what it frees you to do.”
And while the NTE’s water-resistant 600D polyester shell, reinforced handles, and breathable straps deliver professional polish, Elise's touch is in the details. “I always say: if it doesn’t serve someone in their real, messy, beautiful life—it doesn’t belong in the bag.”
With the NTE Series, she’s created something more than a backpack. She’s given us a companion for the journey—whatever shape that takes.
Written by: The MATEIN Team
Interview with Elise Hartman, Lead Designer, MATEIN NTE Series
