Meet the Maker

The Brixton Workshop Collective X Artifact

November 09, 2022

Working with a small, vibrant team of artisans in a former printmaking studio with salvaged production equipment in Omaha, Nebraska, ARTIFACT owner and founder, Chris Hughes, crafts ethically and resourcefully handmade accessories with the finest materials.

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The Brixton Workshop Collective X Artifact

Small Batch Quality Goods From Our Community to Yours

A core philosophy at Brixton is to create enduring classics that only get better with time. Brixton’s Workshop Collective was launched in this spirit, celebrating craft brought to life through the makers and creators around us.

Our passion for community and creativity takes shape in our limited edition collection of unique products made by a select group of talented artisans. This curated lineup of small-batch, sustainable goods is here just in time for the holidays with handmade lifestyle accessories perfectly tailored for thoughtful gifting.

Working with a small, vibrant team of artisans in a former printmaking studio with salvaged production equipment in Omaha, Nebraska, ARTIFACT owner and founder, Chris Hughes, crafts ethically and resourcefully handmade accessories with the finest materials.

For the makers at ARTIFACT, quality is nothing short of an environmental issue. Every product is built to last—and the studio composts or recycles more than 90% of its waste. The crew’s commitment to quality, utility and timeless design comes through in the standout pieces made for Brixton, like a greatlooking, super-functional key fob, wallet, work apron and belt handcrafted in ethically-sourced full-grain harness leather.

ARTIFACT’s belief in sustainability is not the only thing they share with Brixton. Hughes says he was stoked about the collaboration because of Brixton’s strong roots in the skating and surfing communities. Skating is something that’s super important to him and his sons, so if the collab “garners some cool points with them,” he says he’s definitely down with that.

Meet the Maker

Chris Hughes — Artifact

What inspired you to start your business?

“I got laid off during The Great Recession of 2010 and felt like there was never a better time to take an entrepreneurial leap. I wanted to design and make products that focus on quality, utility, and timeless design. Twelve years later, I haven’t found anything I’d rather be doing.”

Was there a person who helped teach you your craft?

“I wish! For years, I bought a lot of antique trade publications on shoe making, saddlery, etc. and connected the dots. Knowledge also carried over from woodworking. With YouTube today, it’s so much easier to learn things.”

Why is it so important to you personally to hand-craft your pieces?

“I love designing and making products. I don’t overthink it.”

How does Sustainability play a role in your approach to the goods you create?

“We compost or recycle more than 90% of our studio waste. Our products are handmade in our Omaha, NE studio which minimizes carbon emissions. Our Sustainability Collection uses certified organic and upcycled materials, as well as metal-free / vegetable tanned leathers. We also repair our products for a nominal fee to keep them in use, and out of a landfill. We hope that continued demand for our Sustainable Collection will enable us to focus solely on green products in the future.”

Why did working with Brixton on the Workshop Collective feel like the right opportunity?

“Brixton’s DNA has roots in skating and surfing. Skating is important to my sons and myself, and this collab possibly garnered some cool points from them. It was also an opportunity to get my brand out there. I’m a small operation by all definitions and it’s great to get in front of the Brixton’s audience.”