“the shop offers ‘hyper local iconic swag that brings to the forefront the essence of Provincetown,’…”
In New Zealand, where owner Paul Nesbit was born and grew up, the term “mate” is one of friendliness and acceptance, so it was a natural name for his new shop. The clothing store is the culmination of nine years spent in Provincetown and Nesbit’s answer to the ultimate question, “Am I going to let fear hold me back my whole life?” He answered no, and the resulting shop offers “hyper local iconic swag that brings to the forefront the essence of Provincetown,” according to Nesbit, who cites a few of his favorite designs: I Found Jesus at Spiritus, Go Climb a Monument, I Survived Commercial Street (with bicycles in the graphic, of course!) and Provincetown: Where Everyone is Welcome. Designs are available on a wide range of clothing and they are, indeed, iconic. Because Nesbit sees shopping as both a personal and an emotional endeavor, his designs tell the story of where they’re rooted—both in Provincetown and in Nesbit’s own experience. Who is his ideal customer? “Everyone! However, I do reference the gay/lesbian aspect in a very subtle way. If you’re gay/lesbian you will get the references; if not, you’ll just think it’s a way cool graphic.”
Mate Provincetown
349 Commercial St.
415.407.4352
mateprovincetowninc.com
