User:Ruthie Davis/sandbox

Challenging convention, Ruthie Davis rewrites the rules governing modern elegance and glamour – avant-garde yet wearable, feminine but unfussy, modern but never cold, her footwear designs skillfully manage a unique fusion of luxury and youthful sensuality. As a New York City resident and Designer and President of her eponymous label, she understands how to create shoes modern women covet.

Ruthie earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Visual Arts from Bowdoin College. She went on to earn her MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson’s Olin Graduate School of Business, with the intention of someday forging an independent fashion label of her own. Ruthie then honed her design and marketing skills by holding executive positions at Reebok, UGG Australia and Tommy Hilfiger before launching RUTHIE DAVIS in 2006.

Designed in New York and handcrafted in Italy, Ruthie Davis shoes are renowned for their architectural shapes, luxurious mix of materials, uncompromising quality and vivid color palette. The RUTHIE DAVIS brand is sold in top tier retail establishments worldwide. In January 2014, she launched her own global ecommerce store on RUTHIEDAVIS.COM. In 2016, Ruthie plans to open the first Flagship Ruthie Davis Store in New York City.

RUTHIE DAVIS is a top choice of celebrities and fashion tastemakers including iconic performers Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez; A-list celebrities Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara, Taraji P. Henson and Shailene Woodley; supermodels Joan Smalls and Karolina Kurkova; and young Hollywood stars Emma Roberts, Zendaya Coleman and Rumer Willis. Her designs have been featured in New York Fashion Week runway presentations by Duckie Brown, Alice + Olivia, Dennis Basso and David Meister among others. Recently, Ruthie collaborated with menswear designer and animal activist John Bartlett on the launch of her first vegan shoe line, which has been nominated for WGSN Global Fashion Collaboration Award of 2015. Beginning in 2013, Ruthie has been collaborating with Lady Gaga on custom shoes for the pop star.

In April 2015, Ruthie was the recipient of Babson’s “Entrepreneur Hall of Fame” award, alongside menswear designer Michael Bastian, for her many achievements as an entrepreneur and leader in the fashion industry. In 2014, Ruthie was the only footwear designer to be accepted into the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Additionally, Ruthie was named the 2014 “Footwear Designer of the Year” by AAFA (American Apparel & Footwear Association) at their annual American Image Awards. In 2013, Ruthie was distinguished as one of Goldman Sachs’ “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs,” one of Footwear News’ “20 Directional Design Stars” in 2013 and 2014, and one of Vogue Italia’s “Vogue Talents.” Currently, the Ruthie Davis story is the first chapter in the top seller “Motivation” book titled, “Life Outside The Box,” by Marilyn Wilson. Ruthie serves as a television fashion expert with regular spots on Bravo, E!, Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox News, and NBC among others. Ruthie consistently dedicates time to mentoring emerging designers and entrepreneurs. Whether it be teaching a course at FIT, or lecturing at MIT’s Sloan School of Business, her message is always clear, “Find your passion, work hard, live your dreams.”