About Us

Rooted in Cultura. Powered by Community. Crafted with Intention.

Monarca Sol Collective is a cultural boutique and artisan marketplace founded by Erica Gutiérrez — a proud Indígena Chicana of P’urhépecha descent, born and raised in Pasadena, California. Erica attended PUSD schools and earned a Teaching Credential and a Master’s in Education from UCLA, dedicating her adult life to community non-profits, education, and cultural preservation.

What began as Mercadito Monarca, in 2019, has grown into Monarca Sol Collective — a vibrant marketplace where tradition, artistry, and collective power converge. Erica’s vision was to create the kind of space she didn’t have growing up—a place that celebrates Mexican culture, uplifts handmade goods rooted in ancestral knowledge, and centers community as a source of healing, pride, and resistance.

“As a young girl in Pasadena, I didn’t have these kinds of spaces available to me. I wanted to create a place that honored, celebrated, and shared our rich Mexican heritage — a space that would have made younger me feel seen, proud, and connected.”

Erica’s family is of P’urhépecha descent from Michoacán, Mexico. Traditions passed down from her grandmother to her mother—like building Día de los Muertos ofrendas—live on at Monarca Sol. These rituals shape the shop’s offerings, events, and soul.

The evolution from Mercadito Monarca to Monarca Sol Collective reflects a deeper purpose: to create a shared space where underrepresented makers and brands grow through collective agency—rooted in culture, not consumerism. The pandemic and Eaton Canyon fires affirmed the need for community-centered spaces offering safety, belonging, and a sense of home.

Today, Monarca Sol Collective is the only boutique of its kind in Pasadena/Altadena — spotlighting handmade artisan goods from Indigenous Mexican communities and local Latinx makers. Erica curates creators whose values and craftsmanship reflect quality, cultural authenticity, and integrity—not mass production.

Behind the shop is a network of family and chosen community:
• Her sons design logos, build the website, and create artwork.
• Her parents help with painting, sourcing goods from Mexico, and behind‑the‑scenes building care.
• Friends and fellow entrepreneurs co-plan events, workshops, and pop‑ups.
Together, they embody Indigenous values of inclusivity, hospitality, generosity, kindness, and honesty.

✨ Monarca Sol is more than a store — it’s a collective, a celebration, and a movement of cultural memory, creativity, and comunidad.