Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth-Ann Thorn.
Hi Ruth-Ann, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve spent nearly three decades building bridges between Native creativity and the broader worlds of art, beauty, and culture. As a proud member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño / Payómkawichum Indians, I grew up rarely seeing Native women in leadership or business roles, and I made it my mission to change that narrative.
In 1995, I founded Exclusive Collections Gallery (EC Gallery), which grew into a nationally recognized network of fine-art galleries in San Diego, Beverly Hills, Laguna Beach, Las Vegas, and Breckenridge. My vision was to make art accessible to everyone and to prove that Native entrepreneurs could thrive in any industry. Those early days taught me resilience, creativity, and the importance of representing our people in spaces where we had never been seen before.
Over time, my work expanded into film and media. I produced and hosted the cultural docuseries “This Is Indian Country” on FNX (First Nations Experience) to spotlight Native artists and communities across North America. I wanted to share our stories of innovation, tradition, pride and show that Native culture is living, evolving, and thriving today.
Native Americans are all about utilizing natural ingredients for medicinal purposes. Based on these traditions, I created N8iV Beauty, a skincare line inspired by natural elements such as acorn oil gathered on the La Jolla Reservation. It just won Allure Magazine’s Best of Beauty Award. It is the first Native-owned beauty company to win this award. This truly is a recognition of Native excellence in an industry where we’ve been invisible for far too long.
One of my most proud moments was when I opened, Native Star Boutique, California’s first and only all-Native American luxury boutique, located in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. It is in the historic Yuma Building which I also own which is amazing considering the area once displayed signs reading “Indians Wanted Dead or Alive.” For me, Native Star is about more than commerce; it’s about reclamation.
At Native Star, I showcase high-end fashion, jewelry, beauty, and art all created by Indigenous designers and makers from across the nation. It’s a place where our culture is celebrated, our artisans are supported, and our stories are told through craftsmanship and creativity.
That’s what Native Star represents to me. It’s not just a boutique, it’s a movement. It’s proof that Native excellence belongs everywhere, from the reservation to the runway, from fine-art galleries to the heart of downtown San Diego.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Native Star is a culmination of everything I have done up to this point. When I first started EC Gallery, people didn’t take me seriously. As a Native woman running fine-art galleries, I was often underestimated. But I learned early on that perseverance and integrity always outlast doubt.
When I later entered the beauty world, I faced similar barriers, breaking into an industry that had little understanding of Native-owned brands. Launching N8iV Beauty meant not only introducing products but also educating people about our ingredients, our sustainability, and our heritage.
Opening Native Star Boutique came with its own set of challenges, too. Transforming a historic property in the Gaslamp Quarter into an Indigenous-owned luxury boutique wasn’t just about construction and curation, it was about changing perceptions. I wanted people to see Native-made fashion and jewelry not as “craft” but as luxury.
Every time someone walks into Native Star and says, “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” the challenges have been worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Native Star is a high-end, all-Native American luxury boutique located in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Every item inside, from couture fashion and fine jewelry to art and skincare, is created by Indigenous makers and Native-owned brands from across the nation.
We feature incredible designers such as Patricia Michaels, Sky-Eagle Collection, Cody Sanderson, N8iV Beauty, and many others. Each piece tells a story of creativity, culture, and pride.
What makes Native Star truly unique is that it’s not just a retail space; it’s a landmark of Land Back in action. To have a Native-owned business in a Native-owned building (the Yuma Building) in a place that once excluded Native people is profoundly symbolic. It’s a statement of progress and pride, showing that our culture isn’t in the past; it’s evolving right here, right now.
My goal is to make Native Star a place where people come not only to shop but to connect and to feel inspired, to learn, and to leave with something that carries meaning and story.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is representation through ownership. For generations, Native people have been represented by others. Now it’s time for us to represent.
I want Native Star, N8iV Beauty, and all my projects to inspire the next generation of Native entrepreneurs, especially young women, to see that they can dream beyond limitations while staying rooted in who they are.
Our culture isn’t static, it’s vibrant and alive. And when we create spaces that honor that truth, we’re not just changing perceptions, we’re changing futures.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://native-star.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativestarboutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/n8ivbeautyofficial
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthannthorn/
- Other: https://ruthannthorn.com/
Image Credits
Ruth-Ann Thorn
