Brotique 505 New Mexican goods made by New Mexicans

The Garcia's have “always been here,” Marka Garcia said, referring to New Mexico.

Her mom's family is from Anton Chico. The Garcia family has since moved to Las Vegas and her and her siblings moved to Albuquerque. Now, she designs merchandise and works retail at Brotique 505, where the state of New Mexico is part of the design. The Zia symbol and other unique aspects of New Mexico are emblazoned on the merchandise.

Brotique 505 started as a differently named coffee shop in Green Jeans, 3600 Cutler NE, owned and was operated by Marka's brother Eric Garcia and Tony Garcia, his brother in-law. They pivoted to retail when they noticed the coffee shop merchandise was selling better than coffee. A brother owned and run boutique in New Mexico, hence the name.

A wholesale retailer from Arizona that made a New Mexico-themed shirt once reached out to Brotique 505 and asked if the store would carry the company's product.

“Light bulb idea, ” Marka Garcia said “Why would we do that? Why not support the local makers who are here.”

That set off a cascade. Brotique 505 partners with small companies around the state to create the products that fill its shelves.

Brotique partners with Guerrilla Graphix and Metal the Brand, two local Albuquerque printers that the Garcia’s still carry.

The Garcias would go to weekend flea markets looking for local artisans to design Brotique 505 merchandise.

“In addition to our family business, you are able to support three or four different makers,” Marka Garcia said “It’s something that was created by a new Mexican, it was printed by a New Mexican. ”

Brotique 505 is a multigenerational family business and partnering with other families and New Mexicans is part of its identity. The store carries products from parent-child pairs, like Root and Feather, a mother-daughter jewelry business and Leon Looks, a t-shirt company run by a father and son.

“The E license plates is one of mine, inspired by our colloquialisms and things we grew up saying,” Marka Garcia said.

She made the original designs unique to Brotique 505, pulling on her heritage as a New Mexican.

They often get customers from small New Mexico towns looking for representation, wanting to show their pride of Lincoln or Moriarty. Locals like to give the merchandise as gifts.

“They want to be representative of where they’re coming from,” Marka Garcia said.

In addition to the Green Jeans store, there are Brotique 505s at Tin Can Alley, 6110 Alameda NE, and in Las Vegas, 707 1/2 Douglas Ave.

Brotique 505 uses designers from all over New Mexico, including Tucumcari, Gallup, Silver City and Las Vegas. It's hoping to expand and use more from southern New Mexico.

“But it's us four who are running three shops,” Marka Garcia said.