Marty Ruza of "Ruza Creations"/"Elegant Belts" was an American designer of leather fashion accessories who won a Coty Award for jewelry design in 1970. He was described by the fashion journalist Eleanor Lambert as the "leader of the fringed leather and beads school".[1]

Ruza won his Special Coty Award along with five other jewelry designers - Bill Smith, Daniel Stoenescu and Steven Brody at Cadoro, Alexis Kirk, and Cliff Nicholson.[2] For the Coty show, his jewelry, along with matching belts and bags, was showcased in a short film montage by Milton Greene.[3] Whilst his leather goods were described as jewel-like, Ruza's company, Elegant Belts, specialised in belts, bags and headbands rather than focussing on jewelry like the other recipients of the Special award.[1][4] Among Ruza's designs were the "sewing bag tote" designed for women who wanted to carry their needlework around with them,[5] and bags and belts in embroidered vinyl.[6] Elegant Belts was still in business in the early 1980s, with Ruza as its president.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lambert, Eleanor (19 September 1970). "Ethnic Theme Monopolises Front Seat in Fashion". The News and Courier. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  2. ^ McDowell, Colin (1984). McDowell's Directory of Twentieth Century Fashion. Frederick Muller. pp. 299–301. ISBN 0-584-11070-7.
  3. ^ Lady Fare (29 September 1970). "Bill Blass Named to Hall of Fame". The News and Courier. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  4. ^ Mohr, Berta (25 September 1970). "Mohr about Fashion: Patterns and Prints lead Winning Designs" (PDF). The Herald Statesman. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  5. ^ McCormack, Patricia (5 January 1972). "Embroidery's the Thing for Spring". The Dispatch. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  6. ^ O'Sullivan, Joan (20 April 1972). "Stitches in Time". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Belt-Tightening Times Good for Belt Makers". Los Angeles Times. 19 November 1982. Marty Ruza, president of one belt-manufacturing company, says the first six months this year were his best season in years.