Encyclopedia Of Detroit

Arab-American fashion designer and entrepreneur, Ruth Joyce lived in Detroit from 1947 until her death in 1970. She first opened her own shop on Livernois Avenue, often referred to as the “Avenue of Fashion.”

Joyce moved her shop in 1963 to a 1912 French-inspired townhouse near Indian Village where her clients could come for fittings and to view seasonal collections. During this time, Joyce employed over 20 skilled workers in her shop. She was known from her use of elegant fabrics, colors, and European-like tailoring in her conservative styling. Soft pink was her iconic color. Joyce valued the idea that less is sometimes more, and that jewelry was sometimes excessive, if one found the right luxurious fabrics. She created versatile ensembles for different occasions and let the customer determine the final product. To get the fit just right, Joyce would use adjustable mannequins that could match her clients’ figures, thus both allowing for the perfect fit, without the need for extra fitting appointments. Clients included members of the Ford family, Dinah Shore, and Detroit’s Miss America, Pam Eldred. Joyce also worked and designed with a charity organization known as Hats for Hearts, which sold hats as a fundraiser for the Heart Fund.