In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, 3rings is spotlighting Latinx designers. The 3×5 Collection from Casa Brixe (pronounced BREE-hey) is a selection of handmade traditional artisanal wool rugs woven by a women’s collective in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The founders of Casa Brixe, Francesca Felix, who was born in Mexico but raised in California, and her husband John, are now based in San Diego. They launched Casa Brixe as a labor of love.

“Being Mexican,” Francesca says, “I have always been passionate about sharing the art and culture of Mexico in a true and ethical way. Mexico has so much beauty to offer and I have always wanted to share this rich and diverse culture with the rest of the world.”

Francesca and John work directly with the Vida Nueva Cooperative in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, to source these traditional rugs. The Vida Nueva Cooperative was started 20 years ago. Today it has 114 members. Casa Brixe brings these textiles steeped in the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions of Mexico to the market.

The 3×5 rugs are Zapotec rugs. They are made of wool that is local to the collective. The wool is first carded across two wire brushes until it’s untangled and smooth.

Then the wool is dyed. The dyes are made from natural materials such as pomegranates, indigo, wood, lemons, and shells.

The women then weave the rugs using traditional looms.  

The end product is a beautiful traditional rug with geometric patterns made by real people, the real way.

Learn more at Casa Brixe.