Where I Come From, Who Is Ruthie Davis - An Interview

Written by: Ruthie Davis

August 5, 2024

Time to read 4 min

Ruthie Davis is much more than a shoe brand that makes high-quality platform heels. It is a manifestation of what Ruthie Davis is about: creating a statement, an empowerment, and an identity.

Table of content

1. Defining the Brand 2. How It All Began 3. The Goal with Customers 4. Why Platform Heels 5. Style, Quality, and Comfort

"Strong, gorgeous, sexy, powerful. I want every person wearing my platform heels to feel their most glamourous and powerful self.

1. Can you define your brand in a few words?

My brand is about accentuating the strong and gorgeous person in all of us by giving people a higher platform to shine bright. This is the essential part of platform heels. I see my shoes as becoming one with the wearer’s body (part of their architecture), and I design them to enhance the foot, ankle, leg and overall stunning look. This is a “wow” brand, where every person who wears my heels can be a supermodel.

2. What made you want to start your own brand? Was there a defining moment?

I am a capable person who has vision and is a doer. I worked for big brands in the footwear industry like Reebok, Uggs and Tommy Hilfiger, but I always knew I could do it myself. I knew that I had to realize my dream and vision and that I had to at least try! The defining moment was when I was SVP at Tommy Hilfiger and someone asked me if my dream was to be President of Tommy Hilfiger or to be Tommy Hilfiger. This gave me pause and I realized it was time to launch Ruthie Davis.

3. How do you want your customers to feel when they wear your heels?

I want every person wearing shoes to feel their most glamourous and powerful self. It’s like Beyonce’s alter ego “Sasha Fierce” – when you put on my heels you are Sasha Fierce! In fact, Beyoncé herself is a long-time customer of mine.

I also want them to be able to walk and move with confidence in my heels – they may be tall, but I design them so that you are securely and comfortably held in and mobile.

4. Most of your shoes are platform heels. Why platform heels?

This was an evolution. I didn’t start out thinking I would focus on platform heels, but this is what the market demanded from me. There are plenty of options in lower single sole heels, but platforms are more of a niche market, and it's harder to find good options. My platform styles are what people loved from me, especially the performers like Beyoncé, Gaga and Ariana Grande who would wear them on stage while performing.

I have always personally loved a platform heel because it gives you the height but is less of a pitch or angle on your arch as the front platform negates the pitch. You can have a 6-inch heel with a 2-inch platform, and it will have the pitch of a 4-inch heel. You can have maximum height that is still wearable with a platform, which is my goal – I like to see eye to eye with men and to take up more space in the room I enter.

5. Style, quality, and comfort, which one comes first for your platform heels?

I can’t put one first as they are totally integrated. Every one of these characteristics is crucial when I design my platform heels. I know that platform heels are not usually the most comfortable to wear, which is why I always find a balance so more people can enjoy my heels. I design styles that allow for comfort and require quality workmanship and materials for that style to be achieved. You can’t stand out and stand strong if your feet hurt, or you can’t walk, which is why the comfort and wearability is also built into each style I design.

6. Where are your platform heels made? Why did you choose to make them there?

My heels are made in both Italy and Brazil. Currently, my primary factory is located in Brazil. When I launched Ruthie Davis in 2006, all of my contacts in the footwear industry were in China, so this is where I made my first few collections with a valued partner. I soon realized that the stores I wanted to sell to expected the footwear on the "salon floor" to be “Made in Italy.”

I knew that this was where I wanted my brand to sit, and hence I had to figure out how to have my shoes made in Italy. With zero contacts there, I had to start from scratch. However, I had to drive to make it work as I wanted my brand to be the highest and best quality women’s dress footwear possible and to compete as a luxury brand. Through a lot of hard work and travel, I broke into the Italy production scene, where I worked with a variety of different factory partners. Then, in about 2017, I was approached by a high-quality factory in Brazil that was confident they could make my shoes well. The reason I decided to move my production to Brazil was for my customer. In Brazil, the prices would be a bit more affordable than the Italy prices, and this was something I wanted to give to my clients. However, I was going to be 200% sure that there was zero change in quality and workmanship. And thankfully, it has been a dream and the quality is incredible

7. Are there any designers/artists who have inspired your platform heel designs?

First and foremost, my designs are inspired by architecture and sports. I love the clean, minimal and sexy lines of mid-century modern architecture and the sizzle and spark of body hugging sport fashion looks! But if I had to name other designers whose platforms inspire me, I would have to say YSL and Valentino platform heels. I also greatly admire the overall brand image, look and feel of Jacquemus, the edgy vibe of Jean Paul Gaultier and the girliness of Shushu/Tong. But the ultimate inspiration to my platform heel designs is every person who aspires to enhance their persona and feel like a glamzon superstar when they slip on a pair of Ruthie Platforms.