From Great Barrington to New York City: Ruby Jones Builds a Clothing Brand Rooted in Sustainability
Written by Tara Monastesse
GREAT BARRINGTON — Like many artists before her, Ruby Jones has made the move to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion designer.
But it was during a recent retreat to her childhood home in Great Barrington that she found the solitude she needed to design her first independent clothing line, a fall/winter collection inspired by the natural world she grew up in.
“It’s definitely an important part of my story, and I think it makes me stand out against other designers,” she said. “It was a real asset for me, coming from the Berkshires.”
The result? A collection of 12 items made from natural fabrics, designed for longevity, comfort and movement. From hats and vests made from sturdy Italian wool to light dresses that incorporate fleece and wool, Jones’ garments are designed to outlast fleeting trends and become lifelong wardrobe staples.
“If it’s cared for properly, it could last a whole lifetime,” Jones said of the clothing.
In a fashion market saturated with cheap, synthetic fabrics, Jones hopes to stand out with designs made from carefully chosen materials. Rather than submitting to the pressures to produce “fast fashion” — low-quality clothes churned out en masse to capitalize on the latest trends — she hopes to create sturdy pieces that can be incorporated into many different outfits over time.
Jones’ appreciation for the outdoors originated in childhood, where she found herself enchanted by the rural landscapes of Great Barrington. She’ll be returning for a Holiday Pop-Up, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28, for a Black Friday sale, celebrating her brand’s launch with a pop-up shop at Jess Cooney Interiors in Great Barrington. The shop's online storefront is also currently open for pre-orders.
“I was a super earthy, crunchy kid,” she said in a recent video interview with The Eagle from her apartment in Manhattan, where she works part-time as a waitress to support her creative pursuits. She spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, overturning logs to poke at bugs and making “cakes” out of backyard detritus.
“There’s a lack of brands that really understand people who don't live in cities,” Jones said, which is what her collection hopes to remedy by spotlighting her rural hometown and community.
During her formative years at the Berkshire Waldorf School, Jones received an art-driven, tactile education where activities like coloring and knitting were approached with the same gravity as numbers and reading. She credits these experiences as crucial to her creative development. Jones also recalls that no one ever discouraged her from pursuing fashion as a career, allowing her creativity to flourish.
Jones later studied fiber science and apparel design at Cornell University, where her coursework went beyond just design sketches and sewing. Students delved into the chemical makeup of fabrics, burning samples to learn more about their structure. Learning firsthand about natural fabrics taught her to appreciate their beauty and versatility, as well as their sustainability.
“I’ve always been kind of inspired by fabrics,” she said, which led her to design clothing that prioritizes high-quality materials above all else.
When it was time to take promotional photographs for the collection, the Jug End State Reservation in Egremont immediately came to mind as the obvious backdrop. Her grandparents lived right at the reservation’s edge, where her grandfather, a photographer, once generated endless pictures of the natural landscape. Against a lush backdrop of trees and flowers, local model Madeleine Mason dons the collection’s soft hues: baby blue, warm cocoa and faded orange.
While Jones prioritizes her own creative intuition, there are a few designers she credits as inspirations. She loves Ralph Lauren's lifestyle-oriented approach and Americana aesthetic, and said that her experience as a former womenswear designer for Thom Browne led her to value the story behind individual garments.
In terms of aesthetics, her motto is “timeless, but not classic.” Her pieces have unique silhouettes and colors, but are neutral enough to generate endless combinations.
While many women’s fashion lines feature garments that can be restrictive, Jones wants her clothing to prioritize movement and comfort. Meant to be worn outdoors, the soft, breathable fabrics are conducive to afternoons spent gathering wildflowers or exploring hidden trails.
Jones remains committed to using sustainable materials, even as tariffs have driven up the prices of her preferred fabrics, mainly sourced from Japan and Italy. This production model is certainly more time-consuming and costly, but Jones feels that the trade-off is worth it.
“If I were to go the other route,” she said, “it wouldn’t be worth it as a career.”