about us
Founded in 2018 by Sheva Lee Absher, West Native is a jewelry line born from duality. It reflects both her Iranian heritage and her California roots, drawing on Persian and broader Middle Eastern motifs while embracing contrast at every turn: heritage and modernity, refinement and edge, tradition and rebellion.
For years, West Native existed in the background of Sheva’s life- a personal vision she loved but wasn’t sure could fully take flight. In 2025, everything shifted when longtime friend and creative collaborator Gretchen McManus joined as partner, and the brand found its rhythm. Gretchen oversees the inner workings of the business, while Sheva drives its design and storytelling- together, they blend vision with execution. Along the way, they discovered what had been missing: the joy of building something meaningful alongside someone who instinctively understands your heart, your instincts, and your vision.
Their partnership runs deeper than business. Sheva and Gretchen first met years earlier while leading product design and development at a major jewelry brand, traveling the world together and shaping collections for other labels. Even then, there was an unspoken understanding that their creative connection was rare- a spark that hinted at something larger and entirely their own. West Native became that something: a place where contrasts coexist effortlessly, where difference is celebrated, and where two perspectives unite to create jewelry that is alive with meaning.
Each piece from West Native carries a story- of place, of heritage, of identity in motion. Wearing it is an invitation to embrace the spaces between and to celebrate the beauty that emerges when east and west, tradition and evolution, refinement and rebellion meet.