Shop our Empire Blue 2x8 subway tile

At Zia Tile, we have passion for all things Cement. Our Empire 2x8 subway Cement design is matte silky, and gorgeous. As one of our 2x8 Cement color collection, each tile has subtle tonal variation. Empire blue 2x8 subway Cements are perfect for bathrooms, showers, and flooring applications. They are also especially relevant for use in kitchen backsplashes, kitchen floors, powder rooms and outdoor patios. They are timeless, durable, and endlessly variable. Find over a hundred unique designs like our Empire blue tile at ziatile.com

Where our Cement comes from.

The French and Catalans were the first to use the technique in the 1850's both in France and in Barcelona. The complex patterns used in the tiles are due to an interest in ancient cultures, most notably early Arab and Moorish art. As a result, the tiles spread throughout Europe as a high quality flooring material and then onto former European colonies in Latin America, North Africa, and Vietnam.

How Zia Tile manufactures our tile.

We make 2x8 subway Cement color Cements like our Empire blue pattern by hand, one at a time, using mineral pigments, cement, a mold, and a hydraulic press. Each of our Empire 2x8 subway tiles are unique and one of a kind, as tonal variation makes every tile subtly different from the next. The individual patterns are made by applying separate pigments, one by one, in a handmade copper mold. The process is incredibly delicate, requiring skilled artisans with years of experience.

Why we love 2x8 subway tile

Our Empire blue 2x8 subway
Cement tiles are not fired in a kiln because there is no glaze layer on the surface of the tile. Instead, each tile has a pigment layer that is 2-3 millimeters thick, resulting in a tile that is incredibly durable, lasting well over a century. Our tiles come in an endless array of patterns with 64 custom colors to choose from, from bold jewel tones, to monochromatic black and white.