UTILITARIO MEXICANO
– MEXICO CITY –

An archive of everyday objects

Utilitario Mexicano is a Mexico City-based retail and research project founded by Libia Moreno and Enrique Arellano, dedicated to the identification, selection and presentation of objects that have traditionally been part of everyday life in Mexico.

At the center of the project is a collection of more than 1,000 objects. These include funnels, pitchers, enamel tableware, tortilla presses, copper teapots, graters, baskets, mortars, extension cords and light bulbs—objects that are defined not by category or trend, but by their usefulness. They are described as items originally made to last, not to be quickly replaced, and carry with them a clarity of purpose that does not require explanation.

OBJECTS AS PART OF DAILY CULTURE

What distinguishes Utilitario Mexicano is the way these objects are understood as part of a broader cultural context. The collection brings together what is described as an “alphabet” of forms, materials and uses that have shaped domestic life in Mexico over time. Rather than isolating design as a separate discipline, the project presents it as something embedded in everyday routines, where function, familiarity and material knowledge are closely connected.

“Simple, useful and beautiful.
Made in Mexico.”

l, useful and beautiful. Made in Mexico.”

The objects themselves originate from different types of production environments, including blacksmithing, carpentry, lathe and ceramic workshops. This places them between industrial and artisanal modes of production, while maintaining their primary role as tools for daily use. Their visible individuality and imperfection are a direct result of these processes.

A SYSTEM OF SELECTION AND PRESERVATION

A central aspect of the project is the continuous search for objects and their producers. The work of the founders is described as an ongoing process of locating, identifying and selecting items, as well as mapping the networks of small and medium-scale traders behind them. This research-based approach forms the foundation of the collection.

At the same time, Utilitario Mexicano focuses on objects that are considered to be at risk of disappearing. By bringing them together, the project not only documents their existence but also repositions them within a contemporary retail context. The classification of the objects—by material, use, color, chronology or subjective harmony—further reinforces this structured approach, turning the assortment into a system rather than a random selection.

Located in Mexico City, in Colonia Juárez, the store operates both as a physical space and through its online platform. In this context, it presents a model that combines a large-scale, function-driven assortment with a clearly defined selection principle and a sourcing process rooted in local production and cultural continuity.

Utilitario Mexicano Store
Calle Marsella 3a
Colonia Juárez
06600 Mexico City, Mexico

Opening Hours
Mon–Sat: 11:00–20:00
Sun: 11:00–19:00