(Above image: Jezarely Miguel works with local artisans in Oaxaca to produce high-quality, small-batch rugs. Image courtesy of Diana Mata.)
Named after the Spanish word for hue, Matiz was founded by Jezarely Miguel, Ind. IIDA, with the mission to preserve Mexican handmade textile traditions. The LA-based interior designer’s, high-quality, small-batch rugs are produced by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, using locally sourced materials from Teotitlan del Valle. Both a nod to Miguel’s cultural roots and an embrace of traditional craftsmanship, Matiz focuses on artistry and ancestral techniques. The company’s dedicated team of artisans practices rug-making methods passed down for generations—paired with Miguel’s contemporary designs, the result is truly one of a kind.
“Jezarely blends her cultural roots through collaboration and community impact to bring people together through innovation and the power of design,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, about Miguel, who received this year’s Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Award. “This blend embodies the significance of Anna Hernandez’s dream of seeing women thrive in leadership, ingenuity, and steadfast commitment to storytelling in the industry.”
Design storytelling is deeply woven into Miguel’s work. Matiz’s first two collections were inspired by Oaxaca’s mountainous terrain and vibrant architecture and aim to convey the city’s essence—with sustainability in mind. Both collections were produced with minimal waste and no carbon footprint.
While Matiz is only three years old, Miguel has been part of the commercial interior design industry for nearly a decade. Before founding the artisanal rug company, she worked at a Portland-based furniture dealership and at architecture and design firm Hennebery Eddy Architects, where she contributed to numerous projects, including a concourse expansion at the Portland International Airport. We caught up with Miguel about the evolution of her design career, the profound influence of her Mexican heritage, and how sustainability and community engagement are paramount to her work. Receiving the Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Award is just the beginning of Miguel’s, and Matiz’s, next chapter.
Responses below have been lightly edited for length and clarity.