Company History
RUTH CROSS is
the company name used by Ruth Bridgeman who started RUTH CROSS
in 2004. The name RUTH CROSS was chosen in homage to her grandmother
and acknowledgement that the company is a group effort involving around 50 hand knitters based across Britain and not just
involving Ruth herself.
History to date (For a selection of press please see 'Press' section):
November 2008: Opening of first independant gallery style boutique L'Usine in Salisbury , Wiltshire, UK.
October 2008: Exhibiting in the ethical fashion show, North Islington.
September 2008: Exhibiting at Designers and Agents, New York.
June 2008: Exhibiting at Pulse, London.
June 2008: Launch of completely organic and ethical alpaca/ wool homeware collection.
May 2008: Ruth was selected by Swarovski (the crystal giants) as the designer maker to represent the UK in their new book and touring exhibition. Ruth was commissioned to make a piece of work incorporating their Elements collection of crystals.
February 2008: Exhibiting at Designers and Agents, New York.
November 2007: Exhibiting at the ethical fashion show in Islington.
November 2007: Exhibiting at the Black Swan Gallery as part of their 'Home' show.
November 2007: Country Living Christmas exhibition.
September 2007- October 2007:Exhibiting
Spring summer 2008 in Paris (ATMOSPHERE) and New York (DESIGNERS AND AGENTS)
June 2007: Launch of new website with online shopping section to promote other designers and sell one-off pieces to a wider market.
June 2007: PULSE exhibition at Earls Court London: RUTH CROSS was picked by International textile magazine SELVEDGE to exhibit in their endorsed area.
May 2007: Work Commissioned by acclaimed stylist Jane Howe to appear in ANOTHER MAGAZINE later this year.
April 2007: Collaboration with TN_29 shoe designer for Spring Summer 2008.
February- March 2007: Exhibiting the Autumn Winter 2007-2008 collection in Paris (ATMOSPHERE), New York (DESIGNERS AND AGENTS) and London (CLERKENWELL DRESSED).
January 2007: Patterns commissioned by LOOP- London knit boutique for their forthcoming book Pretty Knits.
October 2006: Paris and London exhibitions for Summer 2007 collection.
February 2006: Paris and London exhibitions for Winter 2006-2007 collection.
September 2005: LONDON DESIGN WEEK interior installation and exhibition at TN_29 Marylebone Lane, London.
February 2005: Launch of first collection during London Fashion week at Le Salon; first international sales.
November 2004: First sales as RUTH CROSS.
June 2004: Ruth
Bridgeman graduates from the University of Brighton with a degree
in Fashion Textile Design with Business Studies. Duing this time
she gained experience working for cashmere knit company TSE in
New York, a textile trend and design studio in Como, Italy and
Paul Harnden Shoemakers in the UK, all of whom she considers vital
to her inspiration and decision to start RUTH CROSS.
March 1981: Born in Suffolk UK, then moved around
before settling near the New Forest, Hampshire where she grew up
and has now returned to. Ruth has recently moved her unusual studio
to a grade 2 listed building in central Salisbury where she also
has a gallery style boutique, please pop in if you're in the area.
