by Nina Welch

Around the corner from the Olympic surf mural alley and next door to Londyn Fay is Nai’a Boutique. The neighboring shops opened within the same time-period and soon became a one-stop-shop destination. The dolphin namesake at 103 Avenida Del Mar opened in April of this year. Owner Sherie Munaretto took over the previous store, Fiorina, in June of 2023.  “I wanted to feel out the community before I rebranded so the customers could get to know me,” she said, and it worked. She dabbled in new inventory and new brands, which brought in new customers. 

The name of the store came to Sherie because she’s always had a love for dolphins, and Naia’a means dolphin in Hawaiian.

Fashion versatility is Sherie’s forte. “I can show a customer five different ways to wear an outfit,” she says. Her motto: love who you are, and love what you wear. Nai’a’s clientele range from mothers and daughters, professional women looking for a fashion forward conservative style, and someone who likes funky happy face sweaters.  A satisfied customer will find a wide selection of fall fashion and sparkly dresses for the holidays.

When a woman came in looking for a dress to wear to her husband’s class reunion in Chicago, Sherie suggested a green two-tiered midi dress that was a hit. Sherie says that the positive feedback from customers gives her validation that she’s doing the right thing.

According to Sherie, at a younger age she had a passion for design and fashion. Her full-time job is Director of Nursing at the City of Hope. She is pursuing her passion for design and fashion by opening the boutique. With flexible hours at the hospital and her two loyal workers, Kelly and Anne, managing the store during the week, Sherie can balance the two. Her dream is to eventually transition out of healthcare within the next five years to open more stores. “Fashion and design is something that feeds my soul outside of healthcare,” says Sherie. 

While shopping for gifts during the holidays, one can choose from a variety of accessories including bags, jewelry, belts, sandals, and pashmina scarves for cool beachy nights. Sherie is an avid supporter of women-owned businesses and showcases their products in her store.  

She lives in Laguna Beach with her two-year old Vizsla puppy Summer. She has three grown sons and two grandchildren.