NoMatch sneakers are instantly recognizable: mismatched pairs, signature pink and purple soles, and bold patterns. Behind the brand is Pattryze Garate (W’22), whose Wharton foundation and creative vision have shaped one of the most compelling new stories in DTC footwear. She’s building more than a shoe brand, she’s creating a movement centered on individuality, community, and unapologetic self-expression.
The initial idea began when she was just fourteen. As a high school student, she designed mismatched sneakers inspired by marine animals to raise awareness for ocean conservation. “It planted the seed for what I hoped would one day be a fully established brand.” At Wharton, a guest speaker event with designer Stuart Weitzman became a turning point. “Hearing his stories and experiences further reaffirmed that I wanted to start a shoe brand one day,” she recalls.
When Pattryze officially launched NoMatch, she set out to build a mission-driven brand that encouraged girls and women to embrace what makes them different. “Every pair is designed with the left shoe intentionally different from the right,” she explains. With bold colors, mismatched details, and playful designs, NoMatch is meant to remind customers that everyone is different in their own way, and that those differences are what make us beautiful. Beyond the brand’s visual identity, NoMatch places a strong emphasis on comfort. “The biggest challenge was the complexity of footwear design,” Pattryze said. “Every tiny change can completely affect the comfort and look of the shoe, and dozens of samples were needed to perfect the fit.” After a year and a half of development, NoMatch launched its first collection in August 2025.
Early marketing efforts included photoshoots, influencer outreach, and paid advertisements through the brand’s official accounts. After a few weeks of lower traction than expected Pattryze realized that a change was necessary. She created a personal TikTok account, @pattryzenomatch, and began sharing her story openly as the founder. “Sharing my journey and my day-to-day as an entrepreneur is what helped the brand come to life,” she says. Customers began connecting not just with the shoes, but with her and the mission behind NoMatch. Within two months, the brand was nearly sold out. Pattryze attributes NoMatch’s early momentum to both its message and its product quality. “People connect with the message first, and then they fall in love with the quality, comfort, and thoughtful details,” she says. Nurses, teachers, and students often tell her they wear them for long days, and many have returned for multiple pairs. To Pattryze, this feedback proved that the countless rounds of prototypes and challenges she faced were worth it.
Her Wharton education shaped far more than her business fundamentals – it influenced the way she creates. With a concentration in entrepreneurship, her marketing and consumer behavior courses gave her a deeper understanding of how customers think, shaping everything from color choices to the overall brand experience. The entrepreneurship frameworks she learned helped her test ideas quickly, stay focused, and design based on real customer feedback rather than assumptions. During her time on campus, she also immersed herself in Wharton’s startup ecosystem by co-founding Spire, a social impact venture accelerator, and worked closely with founders and investors at Red & Blue Ventures. Those experiences surrounded her with people building ideas of their own and inspired her to pursue hers.
Today, the community surrounding NoMatch is the part of the journey Pattryze cherishes most. Customers film unboxings, collect multiple pairs, and actively shape what comes next by sharing ideas for colors, designs, and new products. “It feels like I’m building NoMatch with them, not just for them.” Looking ahead, she envisions collaborations across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and sports, and hopes to partner with fellow Penn-founded brands to make them happen. Her advice for aspiring founders is simple: “Focus on giving people the best quality you can. When you truly care about your product and the experience behind it, people will feel it.