For Ruthie Davis, girl power is something she has “always been about.” It informs her ethos through and through— down to her partnership with Disney which just led to another special collaboration, this time inspired by the 11 Disney princesses. The collection, Ruthie Davis x Disney Princess features eight distinct styles, ranging from her iconic stilettos to printed sneakers. The first princess to receive her own capsule collection will be Snow White, available this January on ruthiedavis.com. Here, Ruthie tells us about the collection, her favorite pieces, and why she loves the Princesses so much.
How did the inspiration and your design aesthetic come together for the collection?
My design aesthetic is founded on creating shoes that make the woman feel special, powerful, confident and beautiful. These characteristics also describe the Disney Princesses. As a woman designing for women, I wear my shoes and I am in touch with what women want. Therefore, the idea of designing multiple collections inspired by each of the Disney Princesses, who are such inspirational women, is a like a dream come true. What my brand stands for and what Disney Princess stands for are totally in sync. I like to think the Princesses would love to wear my Ruthie Davis shoes.
Do you have a favorite piece from Ruthie Davis x Disney Princess Collaboration?
It’s always hard for me to answer this question because it’s like picking a favorite child or dog. What I can say is that I find myself often putting on my “Good vs. Evil” ankle boots. Here, I enhanced a proven and wearable Ruthie Davis silhouette with Disney’s Snow White and Evil Queen original artwork faces that I had custom made in Italy as multi-piece leather patches applied to the boots. They are more literal than some of my other designs, but they fall squarely into the global fashion trend that takes cartoon characters and combines them with luxury high fashion product. Plus the black leather edgy boot design juxtaposed against the beautiful and feminine Snow White face is interesting to me.
Who’s your all-time favorite Disney Princess and what do you love about her so much?
I do love each of them in their own unique way, but I would say Princess Mulan. She is so cool and strong and she saves a nation! She is independent and her fate does not hinge on a male character. I also love that she disguised herself as a man in order to enlist into the army. When I was in high school, there was only a boys’ ski team – so, I asked to try out and was the first girl to make the team. This resonates with me. And what is super-exciting is that Princess Mulan will be my next Ruthie Davis X Disney Princess capsule collection for Fall-Winter 2018!
Can you talk a little about the reasoning behind each of the collaborations you decide take on?
It is vitally important to me that each collaboration celebrates the strengths of each partner so that the sum will create something very special and beneficial to both parties. I need to believe 100 percent in the brand I am collaborating with and I want to build product that is timeless. My partnership with Disney Princess and my collaboration with John Bartlett are both excellent examples of this. The vegan and cruelty free shoe range I created with John Bartlett, which was nominated for a WGSN Global Fashion Award, will forever be something I am extremely proud of.
