People
Malin+Goetz
We chat with Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the brains behind the New York based brand, about beauty and the beasts.
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Dogs and
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If you ever visited their Chelsea store, chances are you already met Bob and Junior, Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz’s bulldogs. Over the years, these two larger-than-life characters gave a new meaning to the term ‘door bitch’ and became as popular as the brand’s Grapefuit face cleanser. ‘Bob would lay in the doorway, and, not bother to get up when someone wanted to come in. Junior, on the other hand, had the ability to pass-gas the moment a customer would walk in’, Matthew recalls.
Malin+Goetz prides itself on approaching skin and hair care like a traditional neighbourhood apothecary would. Easy, gentle solutions with natural ingredients (sourced as close to New York as possible) to make life simple, and great customer service. Their products boast green credentials and are made locally. Matthew and Andrew themselves spent years as foot soldiers, advising every customer at their Chelsea store.
Although the brand doesn’t offer a range exclusive for dogs as yet (the idea has been considered), Bob and Junior have also enjoyed some of the benefits. ‘We shampoo them with our Peppermint Shampoo and we use our lip moisturizer on Bob’s crusty nose’ Andrew explains. Is is clear how passionate both are about dogs when browsing the ‘Product Hounds’ section on their website: ‘We started Product Hounds when we saw the number of customer’s at our Chelsea store shopping with their dogs. We thought it was a fun way to remember each and every one. Now, all of our customers from near and far send photos of their dogs for Product Hounds’.
Both Matthew and Andrew come from luxury, design-driven backgrounds. Their combined curriculum includes names such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Kielh’s, Prada and Vitra. Their understanding of the importance of providing a complete experience inspired them host dinner parties at the store, ‘We thought it would be great to create a ‘salon’ of interesting and creative New Yorkers having dinner in the diorama of our store’ Andrew, who is also an accomplished chef, adds.
We chat to Matthew and Andrew about beauty and the beasts…
Describe Bob and Junior in four words? Tell us your favourite quirk about them.
Happy, love, stinky, funny. Bob is a diva—he cannot be bothered. Junior is ready for breakfast the moment he awakes.
What makes Bob and Junior happy?
Bob, road trip in the car. Junior licking my morning yoghurt bowl clean in the morning .
Is beauty skin deep?
Yup. But, taking care of it does help.
Does happiness make us glow?
Yup. So does our Vitamin E Face Moisturizer.
What’s your morning-after skin fix?
Matthew: Malin+Goetz Detox Face Mask. Andrew: Replenishing Face Serum.
Is necessity the mother of invention?
In our case, it is.
Is there someone you would like to collaborate with?
Matthew: Many. We are fans of Paul Smith. Andrew: Dieter Rams.
The best words of advice you have been given?
Matthew: Stay focused. Andrew: Never waver from your initial concept.
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A book or a song or a movie that influenced you. MM: My most recent favorite book is Middelsex and favorite movie Kill Bill (both volumes). AG Patti Smith, Just Kids. Who would you like to seat next to on a plane? MM: Oprah. AG: Bob and/or Junior. Which food makes you feel better? MM: Chocolate. AG: Cheese. A guilty pleasure. MM: Chocolate. AG: Sleeping in. An object of desire. MM: Chocolate. AG: Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. What are you still curious about? MM: What my next 43 years will be like. AG: Traveling and eating.
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Beauty or beast? MM: Beast. AG: Neither. Pride or prejudice? MM: Prejudice. AG: Pride. Tea or coffee? MM: Coffee. AG: Coffee. East or West? MM: East, AG: Both. Shower or bath? MM: Shower. AG: Shower. Sound or vision? MM: Vision. AG: Both. Summer or Winter? MM: Summer. AG: Winter. Less or more? MM: Less. AG: Less. Shaken or stirred? MM: Stirred. AG: Stirred. Safe or sorry? MM: Hmmm. Safe. AG: Safe.
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Note: Happy 14th birthday, Junior!
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All images courtesy of Malin+Goetz
Portraits of Matthew and Andrew at home courtesy of Nathaniel Brooks
To find out more about Malin+Goetz philosophy and products, visit malinandgoetz.com
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