Nichos Rug

With Matiz, Jezarely Miguel draws deep from her familial roots in Oaxaca, the southwestern state of Mexico, celebrated for its long tradition of textile crafts. These uncharacteristically soft, 100% sheep’s wool rugs are handmade in the town of Teotitlan del Valle, with skilled methods passed down over 4 generations.

The name for the boutique studio, which she founded in 2021, is Spanish for "hue.” It’s a fitting nod to the plant-based coloring applied throughout: cascara de nuez for browns, añil for blues, flor de cempasuchil for yellows and oranges. For the pinks and purplish-reds, it’s cochinilla, a native parasite that lives on cactuses and is dried and crushed for the dye.

This traditional craftsmanship is given fresh interpretation with the contemporary exploration of shapes and forms that characterize Jezarely’s aesthetic. The graphic patterns further draw from the geography and other details that inspire her. It’s a sensibility informed by this Portland-based designer’s expertise in commercial interior design and sustainability. She collaborates directly with rug artisans, encouraging them to set their own wages, and supporting them by facilitating continued creation and methods. This is as much a mission as business for her: “I feel like everyone should know about the beautiful Mexican craftsmanship that Oaxaca, specifically, can do.”