Alison “Ali” Ruth had a childhood dream of being a Broadway actress, which turned into a love for fashion and costumes. What she didn’t love was the sewing machine, an object she still looks at with real animosity, she says.
A imaginative childhood developed into a love of creating, which led to a bachelor’s in Studio Art, studying under prolific artists David and Roberta Williamson. Add in an apprenticeship with Coach, work with Tory Burch, and two years at Lele Sadoughi, and Ruth says she was ready in 2020 to start her own jewelry brand.
Ruth N.Y. is her way of giving women unique jewelry that connects them to their youth, keys in on nostalgia, and brings experiential, maximal accessories to their wardrobes.
“Jewelry is so much more intimate to me than other accessories, and I love that there are so many cases where people never take it off,” Ruth says. “I strive to create mementos that evoke joy and nostalgia for everyone, something that’s stuck with me when I was in college utilizing found objects through now, where I aim to create the jewelry I always wanted when I was a little girl.”
Ruth N.Y. comes to jewelry with a sense of humor as well. A great example is on the brand’s website, where it brags about its fun fine jewelry that serves as “heirlooms for your inner child,” a cheeky reference to a popular industry trope.
That inner child is Ruth herself, the designer says, adding that Ruth N.Y. embraces her playful spirit despite having “big girl” jobs. Her jewelry is meant to be adorable, capturing a child’s joy. Yet it also is meaningful, honoring the beauty of growing up.
“I think jewelry can always be playful, no matter how grown-up we become,” Ruth says.
Ruth grew up in Erie, Pa., which she says is an incredibly artistic city despite its relatively small size. She says she would classify most of her family as makers.
“My paternal grandfather was always in his workshop, carving wood sculptures, slumping glass bottles, building furniture, you name it,” Ruth says. “My maternal grandmother does everything from ceramics to glass to embroidery to painting to beading. She’s basically a craft superwoman.”
Her parents supported Ruth’s adventures with her grandmother and at home. She jokes that she’s thankful her mother put up with it all, including the floor-to-ceiling mural of actress/style icon Audrey Hepburn in her high school bedroom. High school is where Ruth says her teachers encouraged her interest in art and design, helping her see she could pursue these interests in a career.
Ruth’s high school job also was formative; her work in a consignment shop called The Sassy Peacock helped her learn about vintage fashion and accessories.
“I specifically spent a lot of time organizing the jewelry fixtures and styling vignettes and mannequins around the store. I still have some of the pieces I collected then today,” Ruth says.
Her degree from Baldwin Wallace University included a summer internship before her senior year in 2016 at Adelington Design Group, a subsidiary of Kate Spade and Co., now Tapestry Inc. After graduation, Ruth completed a six-month internship at Coach, designing jewelry, bag charms, eyewear, and other accessories.
She spent three years at Tory Burch, designing hardware as well as hard and soft trims for the popular brand. She also got the brand started with 3D printing and rapid prototyping, working closely with the Tory Burch jewelry team.
“Both Coach and Tory were critical in expanding my skill set to other categories. Tory is a fabulous brand for designers who want to explore new materials and concepts. She really values innovation and fosters a lot of creativity within her team,” Ruth says.
From 2020 to 2022, Ruth was the lead jewelry and hard accessories designer at Lele Sadoughi, teaching Ruth about what would take to work through a pandemic and also how to build a brand based on a strong point of view.
“My biggest takeaway from working with so many different brands across so many different categories is that it’s most important to have a really clear voice and brand language,” Ruth says. “With that as a base, you’re able to respond to the changing trends and markets in a way that’s right for you.”
Top: Alison “Ali” Ruth started her jewelry brand in 2020 after years working for other apparel and accessory designers. (Photos courtesy of Ruth N.Y.)
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
