Ruby Hammer MBE Fold Woman
Posted by marie@thefoldlondon.com BigCommerce on 20th Feb 2024
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
‘SERENDIPITY IS A WONDERFUL THING.’
HER STORY
RUBY HAMMER MBE
Global make-up artist Ruby Hammer MBE has gone from working on haute couture catwalks to co-founding cosmetics brand Ruby & Millie to launching an eponymous capsule collection. She tells us about style secrets, bad deals and the moment she ground to a halt.
ON HER CHILDHOOD: I was born to Bangladeshi parents in Jos, central Nigeria. My brothers and I would go to school from 7am to 1pm, and then spend the afternoons climbing trees, riding bikes and running free – we didn’t have TVs or computers. I was skinny with wild, dark hair and I was permanently covered in dust from playing outside; my nickname was “Mowgli”.
I was just six or seven when the Biafra war started; there was a six-foot trench outside our house in case we were bombed and I remember my father, who was a doctor, having to burn his bloodsoaked clothes. When I was 12, we went to London on holiday. My parents had intended to return to Bangladesh (known as East Pakistan at the time) but the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out so we remained in the UK. I went to the local comprehensive school in Putney and then studied economics at City, University of London. I imagined becoming a diplomat or working for the United Nations.
ON HER EARLY CAREER: I’ve always loved make-up. My mum had me when she was 17 and I used to watch her getting ready. I was fascinated by the transformative power of make-up; she’d turn into a Bollywood star in front of my eyes. In my teens, I’d have a different “face” for school every day; I was always experimenting. After graduating, I was working in The Red Fort Indian restaurant in Soho when I was asked if I could help out as a make-up assistant at London Fashion Week. I had to be at Duke of York Square in Chelsea at 4am the next day – and that’s really where my career started.
I went on to work with magazines ranging from Elle to Vogue; supermodels such as Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford and Miranda Kerr; and photographers including Patrick Demarchelier to David Bailey. Alongside carving out my own career as a make-up artist, I also worked with my ex-husband on the UK launches of some of the most influential beauty brands, including Aveda, L’Occitane, Tweezerman and Mister Mascara.
ON LAUNCHING RUBY & MILLIE: In 1996, I teamed up with beauty publicist Millie Kendall to create the Ruby & Millie cosmetics brand, launched in Harvey Nichols and then sold exclusively in Boots pharmacies nationwide. It wasn’t a good deal: Millie and I did everything from the packaging and formulation to the merchandising and marketing – but Boots held the purse strings and had all the power. Even though Ruby & Millie was a commercial success, generating £10m-£15m in revenues at its peak, the brand wasn’t being managed properly to achieve its full potential. The brand bore our name yet we couldn’t fulfil our vision for it within the contract we’d signed. So, in 2008, we had no choice but to resign and walk away with our heads held high.
ON HER TOUGHEST MOMENT: In 2011, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was 50 at the time and I just ground to a halt; my hair turned grey, my periods stopped and I stepped back from work. I nursed my mum for a year and, when she died, I was utterly bereft. She meant the world to me. I went back to work as a make-up artist but it wasn’t until 2016 that I got the urge to do something entrepreneurial again; it felt like I was waking up. A few years later, I launched my capsule collection of beauty essentials called Ruby Hammer, which includes magnetic brush sets, porcelain brush holders and precision liquid eye-liner. The collection, which is responsibly made and 100% cruelty-free, is sold online and at stockists such as Harvey Nichols, Cult Beauty, Gleneagles, Soho Farmhouse in Oxford and Soho Beach House in Miami.
HER STORY
RUBY HAMMER MBE
RUBY HAMMER MBE
Global make-up artist Ruby Hammer MBE has gone from working on haute couture catwalks to co-founding cosmetics brand Ruby & Millie to launching an eponymous capsule collection. She tells us about style secrets, bad deals and the moment she ground to a halt.
Global make-up artist Ruby Hammer MBE has gone from working on haute couture catwalks to co-founding cosmetics brand Ruby & Millie to launching an eponymous capsule collection. She tells us about style secrets, bad deals and the moment she ground to a halt.
ON HER CHILDHOOD: I was born to Bangladeshi parents in Jos, central Nigeria. My brothers and I would go to school from 7am to 1pm, and then spend the afternoons climbing trees, riding bikes and running free – we didn’t have TVs or computers. I was skinny with wild, dark hair and I was permanently covered in dust from playing outside; my nickname was “Mowgli”.
I was just six or seven when the Biafra war started; there was a six-foot trench outside our house in case we were bombed and I remember my father, who was a doctor, having to burn his bloodsoaked clothes. When I was 12, we went to London on holiday. My parents had intended to return to Bangladesh (known as East Pakistan at the time) but the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out so we remained in the UK. I went to the local comprehensive school in Putney and then studied economics at City, University of London. I imagined becoming a diplomat or working for the United Nations.
ON HER EARLY CAREER: I’ve always loved make-up. My mum had me when she was 17 and I used to watch her getting ready. I was fascinated by the transformative power of make-up; she’d turn into a Bollywood star in front of my eyes. In my teens, I’d have a different “face” for school every day; I was always experimenting. After graduating, I was working in The Red Fort Indian restaurant in Soho when I was asked if I could help out as a make-up assistant at London Fashion Week. I had to be at Duke of York Square in Chelsea at 4am the next day – and that’s really where my career started.
I went on to work with magazines ranging from Elle to Vogue; supermodels such as Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford and Miranda Kerr; and photographers including Patrick Demarchelier to David Bailey. Alongside carving out my own career as a make-up artist, I also worked with my ex-husband on the UK launches of some of the most influential beauty brands, including Aveda, L’Occitane, Tweezerman and Mister Mascara.
‘I was fascinated by the transformative power of make-up.’
‘I was fascinated by the transformative power of make-up.’
‘I was fascinated by the transformative power of make-up.’
ON HER STYLE: I like to restyle pieces and make them my own. So I might take a really smart, structured top and team it with ripped boyfriend jeans and trainers. I’d describe my style as classic with a twist; I go for clothing that’s timeless without being boring. I always pick items that wash well, keep well and suit me. I’ve got outfits in my wardrobe that are 15 years old.
ON STAYING SANE: I try to meditate first thing in the morning and last thing at night but I don’t beat myself up if I don’t have time; I’m not trying to be Superwoman. I unwind by reading (I’ve just devoured Another Country by James Baldwin and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite), binge-watching boxsets and exercising. I always have regular body massages and facials. I don’t feel any guilt when it comes to self-care!
ON HER MOST POWERFUL
PIECE OF ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN:
‘Don’t be afraid of change. Life never stays the same.’
ON LAUNCHING RUBY & MILLIE: In 1996, I teamed up with beauty publicist Millie Kendall to create the Ruby & Millie cosmetics brand, launched in Harvey Nichols and then sold exclusively in Boots pharmacies nationwide. It wasn’t a good deal: Millie and I did everything from the packaging and formulation to the merchandising and marketing – but Boots held the purse strings and had all the power. Even though Ruby & Millie was a commercial success, generating £10m-£15m in revenues at its peak, the brand wasn’t being managed properly to achieve its full potential. The brand bore our name yet we couldn’t fulfil our vision for it within the contract we’d signed. So, in 2008, we had no choice but to resign and walk away with our heads held high.
ON HER TOUGHEST MOMENT: In 2011, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was 50 at the time and I just ground to a halt; my hair turned grey, my periods stopped and I stepped back from work. I nursed my mum for a year and, when she died, I was utterly bereft. She meant the world to me. I went back to work as a make-up artist but it wasn’t until 2016 that I got the urge to do something entrepreneurial again; it felt like I was waking up. A few years later, I launched my capsule collection of beauty essentials called Ruby Hammer, which includes magnetic brush sets, porcelain brush holders and precision liquid eye-liner. The collection, which is responsibly made and 100% cruelty-free, is sold online and at stockists such as Harvey Nichols, Cult Beauty, Gleneagles, Soho Farmhouse in Oxford and Soho Beach House in Miami.
ON HER STYLE: I like to restyle pieces and make them my own. So I might take a really smart, structured top and team it with ripped boyfriend jeans and trainers. I’d describe my style as classic with a twist; I go for clothing that’s timeless without being boring. I always pick items that wash well, keep well and suit me. I’ve got outfits in my wardrobe that are 15 years old.
‘I always have regular body massages and facials. I don’t feel any guilt when it comes to self-care!’
‘I always have regular body massages and facials. I don’t feel any guilt when it comes to self-care!’
ON STAYING SANE: I try to meditate first thing in the morning and last thing at night but I don’t beat myself up if I don’t have time; I’m not trying to be Superwoman. I unwind by reading (I’ve just devoured Another Country by James Baldwin and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite), binge-watching boxsets and exercising. I always have regular body massages and facials. I don’t feel any guilt when it comes to self-care!
ON HER MOST POWERFUL PIECE OF ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN
‘Don’t be afraid of change. Life never stays the same.’
‘Don’t be afraid of change. Life never stays the same.’