About Ruth Nathan's

Ruth Nathan’s Chief Designer, Nicole R. Brown, is a young black woman in a passionate love affair with all things stately, swanky, and dandy. Her fascination with the transformative quality of a well-dressed person propelled her to create the brand—making her the odd duck in an industry primarily dominated by male designers. She desires that Ruth Nathan’s not only make customers look fantastic but also feel fantastic, positively influencing them to feel better about themselves. It is a known fact that when one dresses well, one feels better—and from an outfit that is well put together, that makes one walk with pride, the Urban Peacock emerges. Nicole’s artistry is inspired by her travels. For her, the childhood game of “I Spy” never ended, and her globe-trekking has only accelerated the rate of play. As a child, she would hear someone say, “I see a blue house,” but would herself would see much more: deep greens and indigo and smoke purples and slate greys. Today, she enjoys taking everyday objects and places—some industrial and others more delicate—and turning that inspiration into luxurious textiles. One such environment is a shipping port; the lines and colors of the shipping containers transported her wholly and immediately, emblazoning themselves in her mind. Through this lens, the Ports Collection was born.