Matthew Hise is a strategic consultant for lifestyle and fashion brands with a unique focus on business development, operations, and art production. The rich acuity earned through the previous decade’s work as a fashion and portrait photographer with world-wide-representation sets a foundation for his characteristic approach. His 20 years of experience brings immense insight into how brands operate and where their opportunities wait. Recent examples include the paring of a Wall Street venture capitol’s $50m fund with a globally recognized creative agency and the building of a coalition of international partnerships in New York, Istanbul and Guangzhou to support cultural dialogue and cross-border-commerce. 

Seduced at an early age by an impractical devotion to discovering 'how humans operate and why’ he began his flight toward strategic innovation by earning his B.A. degree in ‘Mystical World Religion’. With a special focus in Sufism, he studied, at the University of Georgia, under its most prolific modern poet, Coleman Barks. Afterward, he journeyed through the world of high-end fashion photography and worked closely with its matchless visionary, Isabella Blow, Vogue, and Tatler’s most venerable editor. Several years spent working closely under Mrs. Blow’s mentorship galvanized Matthew’s professional and creative acumen. Her conviction for quality and curiosity in every endeavor unmistakably informs Matthew’s approach. Along with this, Mrs. Blow trained his eye for fashion, design, and esthetics while empowering an unreasonable commitment to the realization of creative vision.

Before devoting fully to innovation and business development he frequently photographed well-stories for Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, UK Glamour, and The London Sunday Times, along with several commercial clients. As a photographer, Matthew was awarded the first-ever contract for Net-A-Porter’s groundbreaking ‘click-to-buy editorials’. He worked directly with founder Natalie Massenet photographing the companies first full year of editorial photography.

Matthew has led new business, strategy and operations for a wide range of clients which include heads of state and government, medical pioneers, retail brands, service providers, advertising agencies, traditional production companies, creative services, apps, and fine arts exhibitions, including several initiatives with Everard Findlay, for the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Matthew is the co-founder of various companies including Weekends Inc. and Star Brands Group. Star Brands Group operates with a mandate from China’s central government and supply chain players to bring vanguard arts, culture, and commerce into China from the west. Star Brands Group brings western brands to China for manufacturing, sales, and distribution within China, for purchase by Chinese consumers. For example, Star Brands Group currently partners with one of the world’s most sought after streetwear labels to engineer an entirely new beauty line for China which is due to the market in the spring of 2020.

As Founder/CEO of Weekends Inc, Matthew brought a first-of-it’s kind 'shoppable content’ production company to market. Working with an obsession for efficiency Weekends Inc delivers affordable eCommerce and branded content to apparel companies through its photography and video services.

Along with the above, Matthew has been a contributor to the world’s most prestigious arts and culture platform, Istanbul 74 since 2002, and now leads art production for the 74 New York office.

Matthew is currently leading the charge, as a co-founder, at Ratava Inc, where he spearheads a mission to revolutionize the creative and apparel industries. Under his guidance, the company is dedicated to delivering transformative solutions and patented tools that pave the way for a sustainable, profitable future in these vital sectors.