With destination boutiques and seasonal pop-ups showcasing the state’s creative range—think heritage textiles to contemporary design objects—holiday shopping in New Mexico is an exploration of craftsmanship and place. Each stop reveals a facet of the region’s cultural lineage and evolving aesthetic. From storied galleries and lifestyle stores in Santa Fe to a newly opened hotel boutique and beloved folk-art pop-up in Taos, finding gifts here is less about the list and more about connection—where every piece tells a story of maker, material, and meaning.
Ship Rock Santa Fe
Leading the way is Ship Rock Santa Fe, a distinguished gallery and boutique noted for its museum-quality vintage Navajo textiles, pottery, and jewelry. “We always try to have a special selection of antique silver objects for the holidays,” shares spokesperson Zoila Cleaver, pointing to vintage Navajo boxes, stamped salad servers, and delicate salt cellars among this season’s treasures. While Ship Rock is best known as a destination for vintage and antique works, Cleaver emphasizes that the gallery also honors living Native artists. This year, that includes a new collection from master Hopi jeweler Sonwai (Verma Nequatewa). Celebrated for its Navajo rugs and blankets, when it comes to an heirloom gift from Ship Rock, Cleaver notes, “there is nothing more special than a one-of-a-kind historic weaving—something that speaks to the history of the region as well as the genius and artistry of the Diné people.”
The Trading Post at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado
In the foothills overlooking Santa Fe, The Trading Post at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado offers its own take on thoughtful gifting. Curated by Spa Director Tina Hay, the boutique reflects the resort’s restorative spirit—its setting beside the spa, which sits on a spiritual vortex blessed by a local shaman during its 2008 opening, lends a tangible sense of grounding energy. “This year’s ‘Sip & Shop’ offers the perfect chance for guests and locals to find a custom Four Seasons gift while enjoying our festive tree lighting celebration,” says Hay. Adding that seasonal favorites include Signature Mountain Desert and Christmas Tea Blends created exclusively for the resort by Desert Mountain Tea Company—such as the Tesque Sunrise, infused with mint, ginger, Navajo tea, rosehips, and turmeric—along with New Mexico–made smudge ritual sticks used in the spa’s Signature Spiritual Journey and Mountain Spirit Purificationtreatments. Handcrafted jewelry, candles, and artwork by local talents Beverly Todd and Andrea Bonfils add an artful touch. For a special, locally inspired gift from The Trading Post, Hay points to the resort’s locally distilled Pinon Essence Aromatherapy Collection.
The Store at Willa & Taos Folk
Continue north along the scenic High Road to Taos, where the creative journey leads to the newly opened Hotel Willa from California-based hospitality group Casetta. Its on-site boutique, The Store at Willa, was developed in collaboration with Santa Fe–based SOTE (Spirit of the Earth)—a partnership that brings together shared values of craft, place, and intention.
Conceived by the Casetta brand team and curated by SOTE co-owner Sophie Sagar, the shop champions locally made and thoughtfully sourced pieces. Much like SOTE’s Santa Fe flagship, a destination space for coveted artisan wares and meaningful design since 2019, the boutique embodies a philosophy rooted in connection. Alongside SOTE’s namesake candle line — each one named for a different family member, with scents inspired by winter walks through snowy woods and frost on cedar branches — The Store at Willa features a thoughtful edit of New Mexico–made goods. Designer Bianca Shannon brings a rugged yet refined sensibility with her hand-finished accessories line Kit Santa Fe that features silk bandanas and molded horse-head slides: a nod to her cowgirl roots and life in the high desert. From Santa Fe’s herbal apothecary scene, Loam by Halley Strongwater provides small-batch plant medicine and skincare crafted from bioregional ingredients—the Virga hydrosol with ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper, and prickly pear cactus lotion both make perfect stocking stuffers. Adding to the collection is Taos ceramicist Logan Wannamaker, whose wood-fired vases, cups, and mugs shaped by ash, flame, and time are a quiet study in the elemental beauty of the Southwest.
But no holiday shopping pilgrimage to northern New Mexico is complete without a stop at Taos Folk, whose annual pop-up runs November 18 through December 24. Founded in 2008 and now led by owner-director Jessie Tinch, the collective gathers dozens of local makers under one roof at The Stables gallery—this year’s roster features around 60 artists, among them silversmith Lyle Wright and musician Max Gomez. Tinch curates with a keen eye for craftsmanship and community, championing hand-knits, ornaments, and desert-inspired décor that reflect the region’s creative pulse. The space itself, within walking distance of the Plaza, feels like an artist’s salon with warm lighting and makers on-site during launch night. Part marketplace, part community hub, Taos Folk is more than a pop-up—it’s a gathering of art, spirit, and connection that captures the essence of the New Mexico holiday season, says Tinch.
Located within the newly reimagined Hotel Willa in Taos, New Mexico, The Gallery at Hotel Willa is a 2,000-square-foot exhibition space activated by The Paseo Project, a Taos-based nonprofit that champions community transformation through the arts. This gallery space is a vital part of Hotel Willa’s mission to celebrate the vibrant creative spirit of Taos while offering a unique cultural experience for visitors and residents alike.
Open Friday, Saturday, & Sundays: noon - 5pm
Or by appointment
Holiday shopping in New Mexico is an exploration of craftsmanship and place
It’s a gathering of art, spirit, and connection