Happy Friday Amigos,

Welcome to the next edition of JM’s Weekly Roundup. A quick hit of what’s new at La Matera and a few things that’ve popped up on my radar lately.

Feels like Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer down here in Texas. Looking forward to getting outside a bit, firing up the grill, and trying to stay off my phone for a couple days.

TL;DR:

• La Matera Highlight: Memorial Day Sale is LIVE!

• Worth a Read: The Comfort Crisis: a reminder that doing hard things and getting uncomfortable once in a while is probably good for us.

• Worth a Watch: Revisited Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown this week. Still one of the best travel and storytelling shows ever made.

• Brand I’m Eyeing: Ford x Carhartt: rugged trucks and legendary workwear. Feels like a collaboration that was always going to happen.

• Weekend Wisdom: “Freedom lies in being bold.” A good reminder heading into Memorial Day weekend to appreciate the freedom we get to enjoy.

1. La Matera Highlight: Memorial Day Sale is Live!

We kicked off our Memorial Day sale this week with 20% off belt bundles through Monday.

Honestly, this is probably the best time all year to stock up if there are a few styles you’ve had your eye on. Summer tends to be heavy in the rotation for us. More travel, more events, more reasons to actually get dressed and leave the house.

I’ve always thought belts are one of the easiest ways to shift the feel of an outfit without overthinking it. Throw on a woven belt with a simple tee and shorts and suddenly it looks like you made an effort.

Simple math. Big upgrade.

2. Worth a Read – The Comfort Crisis

I finally got around to reading The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter and really enjoyed it. The whole premise is that modern life has gotten almost too comfortable. Climate control, screens, convenience, constant stimulation. We’ve gotten very good at removing discomfort from everyday life, but in the process we might be losing a few things too.

The book leans into the idea that people are generally happier and healthier when they still do hard things occasionally. Get outside. Carry something heavy. Put your phone down. Be a little uncomfortable every once in a while. Nothing revolutionary, but it’s the kind of reminder that probably lands harder than it should. Especially for those of us spending too much time staring at screens all day.

Definitely worth the read.

3. Worth a Watch – Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

I haven’t really listened to much music or watched much of anything new this past week, so I found myself pulling an old favorite back out of the archive: Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown.

Nobody really traveled or told stories the way Bourdain did. It was never just about the food. It was about the people, the culture, the little details, and the feeling of a place. He had a way of making the world feel both bigger and smaller at the same time. I revisited a couple episodes lately and it reminded me how good that show really was. Absolutely worth going back to.

If you need a clip to get reacclimated or if you’ve just been living under a rock and never seen an episode, here’s the one where Bourdain visits Waffle House with Sean Brock. It’s fantastic.

4. Brand I’m Eyeing – Ford x Carhartt

I’m glad that Ford and Carhartt realized they were basically building products for the exact same guy. I came across the new Ford Super Duty x Carhartt collaboration this week and thought it was pretty cool. Heavy-duty trucks paired with one of the most recognizable workwear brands out there just makes sense.

There’s something I’ll always appreciate about brands that lean into utility and durability without trying too hard. Carhartt has been doing that for generations, and Ford’s built plenty of trucks that have spent more time working than posing for photos. Hard not to appreciate that combination.

5. Weekend Wisdom – Robert Frost

“Freedom lies in being bold.” - Robert Frost

Memorial Day weekend always feels like a good reminder that the freedom to build businesses, spend time with family, chase ideas, and enjoy ordinary weekends like this didn’t come without sacrifice from others somewhere along the way.

Feels worth appreciating a little more this weekend.

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Alright, that’s it from me. Enjoy the long weekend if you have one.

Appreciate y’all being here.

Cheers,
JM

Jon-Mark Craddock
CEO

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Originally published in JM's Weekly Roundup on 2026-05-22.