Cristina Ruales

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Cristina Ruales
BornCristina Maria Ruales 1972
NationalityEcuadorian / American
Alma MaterParsons School of Design, The New School, Yale School of Drama
Children2

Cristina Ruales (pronunciation Rooalis), is an Ecuadorian-born American fashion designer, costume designer, coach, and public speaker. She is the founder of Cristina Ruales NY | CT[1] and is known for her work in fashion, homewares, decor, branding, and costume design. Ruales also coaches and speaks publicly on design, fashion, and branding. Her company and personal mission is to "promote confidence and celebrate individuality".[1]

Early life and Education

Raules was born in Quito, Ecuador[2][3], and moved to the United States at the age of 12. She showed an early interest in art and design, participating in local high school arts programs.[3] After completing the 11th grade, she was admitted early to Parsons School of Design, where she immediately began her college career in fashion design. [3][4]

She earned a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons and a partial BA in Writing from Eugene Lang College.[4] Ruales later attended the Yale School of Drama, studying costume design. She graduated with a Master’s in Costume Design, focusing on fashion history and tailoring techniques from various historical periods.[2][3][4]

Career

Costume Design

During and after her time at Yale, Ruales worked professionally under the name Cristina Ruales-Desrosiers. She was involved in costume design for theater, dance, opera, film, television, and commercials, serving as both lead and assistant designer. She was a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Union, [5] reflecting her professional affiliation with major theatrical and film productions.[5]

Notable projects include:

  • From the Earth to the Moon (HBO, 12-part miniseries, produced by Tom Hanks) – Assistant designer to Emmy Award winner Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko
  • Not About Nightingale (Broadway, Tennessee Williams) – Assistant designer to Karyl Newman
  • The Ride Down Mt. Morgan (Public Theater, Tennessee Williams) – Assistant designer; lead actor Patrick Stewart received a Drama Desk nomination; production staged during the lifetime of Arthur Miller[6]
  • 3 A.M. (2001, produced by Spike Lee) – Assistant designer; starring Michelle Rodriguez and Danny Glover

Through these experiences, Ruales honed her expertise in costume construction, historical tailoring, and collaborative design processes, bridging theater, film, and fashion design.

Fashion Design

Ruales found her fashion company in 2000, initially launching her Eponymous Collection.[8][9] through Barney's New York and Barney's Japan. Inspired by her Ecuadorian heritage, she employed local women to knit her collection, supporting fair trade initiatives. Production later expanded to Bolivia using local alpaca.[10]

Her collections have also been sold at major retailers, including Barney's New York and Japan, Neiman Marcus, Takashimaya, American Rag, and Selfridges London.[10]

She has held several senior roles in the fashion industry:

  • Senior Designer, DKNY Jeans – Women’s knitwear[3][11]
  • Creative Director, Whim – Cashmere and accessory collections sold at Bergdorf Goodman and Barney’s[10]
  • Creative Director, SO/BGN (London) – Responsible for entire collection and show for Paris-based line; achieved over $1 million in first market week[10]
  • Head of Women’s Design, Victorinox[10]
  • Vice President of Design, Jill Stewart – Designed over 90% of collections; introduced tailored jackets launched at Macy’s[10]
  • Design Director, Kloth[10]
  • Design Director, Walter Baker / W118 by Walter Baker[10]

In 2014, Ruales launched her first New York Fashion Week (NYFW) show, part of the official CFDA Fashion Calendar, scheduled between Oscar de la Renta and Narciso Rodriguez [12]. The show highlighted sportswear at a high-fashion level [10] and received press coverage from major outlets, including WWD [13], CBS[14], E![15], and Getty Images[16].

In Spring [17], Ruales formed sponsorships and collaborations with notable brands and artists, such as INGLOT[18][19], Arrojo[20], Edward Tricomi from Tricomi and Warren Tricomi salons[18][21], as well as sponsorships from Red Bull (UK) and Tito’s Vodka (NYC)[22]

After a long hiatus in the fashion industry, where runway shows traditionally used only professional models, Ruales reintroduced the use of ballet dancers on the runway, casting dancers from several top ballet schools in NYC[23][24]. This approach pays homage to Geoffrey Beene and reflects her ongoing interest in cross-pollinating artistic disciplines, a hallmark of her creative initiatives.

Academic Recognitions

Guest Working Artist/Lecturer/Coach/Teacher at AFLCT (Artists for Learning CT)[9]

Design Critic, for BFA Graduates at Parsons School of Design (2010-2016)

Guest Design Critic, at Savannah College of Art and Design (2009)

Fulbright Scholarship Finalist (1993)

Personal Life

Ruales is the daughter of Martha and Cesar Enrique Ruales and is the mother of twin children[25]. Her father, Cesar Enrique Ruales, was an accomplished pathologist and an avid mountain guide and teacher[26]. The Refugio Oleas Ruales Berge, located in the mountains of Cayambe in the Andes of Ecuador, is named in honor of him and his two best friends and expedition partners.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Cristina Ruales Co. | Home and Fashion Designer". Cristina Ruales. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Latinos at New York Fashion Week: The Bold Designs of Cristina Ruales". NBC News. 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "30 International Festival for the Arts and Ideas | Cristina Ruales Fashion Workshop". 30 International Festival for the Arts and Ideas. 23 March 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Let's Go: Ruales family of artists shows work in Waterford". The Day, New London, Conn. via Yahoo Entertainment. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Local Unions Archive". IATSE. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  6. ↑ Remembrance of Things Past (2021-07-15). 'The Ride Down Mt Morgan' Patrick Stewart 2000. Retrieved 2025-10-23 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "Jen Liu >< Fred Ho /// "Electropore" >< "Warrior Sisters"". The Kitchen OnScreen. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  8. ↑ Dec. 2001. Cosmopolitan , Hearst Magazine, https://onedrive.live.com/?qt=allmyphotos&photosData=%2Fshare%2FFA304A0F7E2EC6AD%21s175b08b266b34f44a45e920aceff4236%3Fithint%3Dphoto%26e%3DVjEB2n%26migratedtospo%3Dtrue&cid=FA304A0F7E2EC6AD&id=FA304A0F7E2EC6AD%21s175b08b266b34f44a45e920aceff4236&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL2kvYy9mYTMwNGEwZjdlMmVjNmFkL0ViSUlXeGV6WmtSUHBGNlNDczdfUWpZQjhPdDhDLTJ0ZzZXNFNXaF9XbkJtdEE%5FZT1WakVCMm4&v=photos. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Cristina Ruales - Arts for Learning Connecticut". directory.aflct.org. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. ↑ "Cristina Ruales Fashion Workshop". International Festival of Arts and Ideas. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  12. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/cfda.f.mrhenry.be/2016/09/Grid_Womens_Sept_2015.pdf
  13. ↑ Staff, Antonia Sardone,WWD (2016-02-11). "Cristina Ruales RTW Fall 2016". WWD. Retrieved 2025-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Digital Couture? Check Out These Latin American Designers". NBC News. 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  15. ↑ "E!'s Fashion Finder: Shows, Parties and Celebrity Sightings From Day 5 of New York Fashion Week!". E! Online. 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  16. ↑ "378 Cristina Ruales Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images". www.gettyimages.com. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  17. ↑ Landeta, David (2015-11-25). "Diseños ecuatorianos caminaron por el New York Fashion Week". El Comercio (in español). Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Cristina Ruales-Backstage #NYFW SS'16 Futuristic&Modern". Cristina Ruales-Backstage #NYFW SS'16 Futuristic&Modern. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  19. ↑ Russo, Denise Del (2015-09-16). "The Dish with DDR: Backstage with INGLOT at Cristina Ruales NYFW SS16". LAURENcosenza. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  20. ↑ "Hair by ARROJO at Cristina Ruales RTW Fall 2016". ARROJO Pro. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  21. ↑ Staff (2015-09-19). "Cristina Ruales Presents Spring/Summer 2016 Collection". The Knockturnal. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  22. ↑ "Tito's Handmade Vodka". Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  23. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/cfda.f.mrhenry.be/2016/09/Grid_Womens_Sept_2015.pdf
  24. ↑ "Runway Report: High Performance at Cristina Ruales". Beauty Launchpad. 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  25. ↑ "Let's Go: Ruales family of artists shows work in Waterford". The Day, New London, Conn. via Yahoo Entertainment. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  26. ↑ "Cayambe Refuge : Hut & Campground Information : SummitPost". www.summitpost.org. Retrieved 2025-10-23.

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