Morning Star Creations
Morning Star Creations
Nina Gobin, a Tulalip Tribal member, creates handmade ribbon skirts that reflect Native identity, tradition, and personal storytelling. Through Morning Star Creations, she shares the cultural meaning behind each design—where every color and ribbon has a purpose. Read on to learn how Nina’s work preserves ancestral knowledge and celebrates the strength of Indigenous women through art and education.
Your go-to resource for a fabulous ribbon skirt
By Micheal Rios
Over the past decade, there’s been a shimmering surge in the popularity of Native American ribbon skirt making. These skirts, which are decorated with vibrant colored ribbons and patterns that hold spiritual and cultural significance, have become an eye-catching expression of Native American identity and resilience.
For Native American women, ribbon skirts are not only a bold fashion statement but also a powerful tool for cultural reawakening, community building, political activism, and economic empowerment.
At the heart of the ribbon skirt movement is a deep connection to tradition and culture.
Ribbon skirts have been worn by Native women for generations. They were often worn for important occasions such as powwows, potlatches, weddings, and other cultural ceremonies.
Today, a new generation of modern matriarchs are literally sewing together past teachings with a shared identity of Native culture that isn’t afraid to create new traditions. Such is the case with owner and operator of Morning Star Creations, Toneena (Nina) Gobin.
“Many of our ancestors feared the consequences if they didn’t hide their culture, but now we’re in an era of empowering diversity. Native people can wear something like a ribbon skirt or ribbon shirt and be told, ‘Oh wow. That’s badass!’”
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Nina, an inspiring 25-year-old Tulalip tribal member, learned the fundamentals of ribbon skirt making from her regalia-making teacher Lisa Powers while attending Northwest Indian College seven years ago. Afterwards, she received additional guidance from locally renowned ribbon skirt maker Winona Shopbell. Nina used the teachings of Lisa, Winona, and countless YouTube sewing tutorials to create a ribbon skirt style all her own.
With each hand-made skirt she makes and sells comes an immediate boost in her confidence and self-belief to create something that is equal parts culture, art, and fashion.
The rise of ribbon skirt making has led to economic empowerment for Native women, such is the case with Nina, who can circumvent typical manufacturing methods by creating these ribbon wonders in the comfortable environment of home. By creating and selling their skirts online or at local vendor markets, they are able to support themselves and their families while sharing their culture with others.
Surrounded by fabric galore, ribbon spools that span the color spectrum, and all the sewing essentials she needs, Nina designs and handcrafts her skirts from her home overlooking Tulalip Bay. Her scenic backdrop of ocean currents, towering Cedar trees, and natural wildlife supports her artistic process and fuels her imagination to create one-of-a-kind skirts. Unless that is, a client requests a specific skirt pattern and ribbon colors. In that case, Nina is more than happy to oblige.
Expanding her client base, Nina has begun making ribbon shirts for couples seeking matching flair for their night out on the town. Mothers with young daughters, Nina’s got you as well. She can make mini ribbon skirts for even the youngest matriarch in training.
“For me, ribbon skirts represent the ability to adapt and evolve with changing times,” reflected Nina while taking a break from her devout sewing machine.
“A good way to view them is through the same artistic lens we use to view painters, beaders, weavers, and carvers. All Native artists have their own unique style that continues to adapt to new technologies and changing buyer markets. The styles and colors and textures may vary, but at the end of the day we all are trying to represent our people and culture in a good way.”
Interested parties desiring to support a local, woman-owned business and Tulalip entrepreneur are encouraged to contact Nina via her Facebook page Morning Star Creations or on Instagram through her handle @MorningStarCreationsTG
She can’t wait to work with you!
