Ruby Hammer
Ruby Hammer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 Jos, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Makeup artist, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | Ruby & Millie cosmetics line, makeup artistry for top models and designers |
| Notable work | Face Up: The Definitive Guide to Make-up |
Ruby Hammer is a renowned makeup artist and an entrepreneur in the fashion and beauty sectors. In recognition of her impactful work within the cosmetics field, she was honored with an MBE in 2007.
Early life
Born to Bangladeshi parents in Jos, Nigeria, Hammer's father practiced medicine there. At age 12, her family relocated to Britain. Although they intended to return to Bangladesh, the outbreak of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 made this impossible. Hammer completed a BA (Hons) degree in economics at City University London in 1984.
Career
Hammer’s career in makeup artistry started in 1984 when she worked as an assistant during London Fashion Week. She advanced to styling runway models for prominent designers such as John Galliano and Jasper Conran. Her clientele has included top figures like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Sadie Frost, Elle MacPherson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Sharon Stone. Her makeup artistry has been featured in leading publications including Elle, Marie Claire, and Vogue.
Her expertise extends to advertising and commercial projects for international brands such as Oil of Olay, Pantene, and Head & Shoulders. Additionally, Hammer has developed products, provided trend consultancy, and conducted training for major corporations including Estee Lauder, Clarins, Clinique, Aveda, and Revlon. Her television appearances include shows like The Clothes Show, BBC Style Challenge, Britain's Next Top Model, GMTV, and This Morning. She also served as the resident makeup artist for three seasons of 10 Years Younger.
In 1998, Hammer teamed up with beauty publicist Millie Kendall to create the Ruby & Millie cosmetics line, which was exclusively retailed by Boots UK. This marked the first significant UK cosmetics brand launch in three decades. The initial Ruby & Millie outlets opened within Harvey Nichols stores located in Leeds and London. Their brand expanded in 2009 with the introduction of Scarlett and Crimson, a cosmetics range targeting teenagers.
Continuing her innovation in product development, Hammer launched the "Ruby Hammer Recommends" beauty gift collection exclusively at Debenhams in 2011. In August 2019, she unveiled a capsule selection of essential beauty products that garnered nominations for Vogue Magazine’s 'Best Newcomer' award and Sunday Times Style’s Best Expert-Led Beauty Brand.
Awards and recognition
- At the inaugural British Asian Fashion Awards during The Clothes Show in December 2002, Hammer was honored with an "Outstanding Individuals Award" acknowledging her substantial influence on both the British Asian community and mainstream fashion.
- In 2007, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as part of the 2007 New Year Honours for her contributions to the cosmetics industry.
Personal life
Hammer lives in London with her husband Martin Kuczmarski. She has a daughter who is also engaged in the beauty field, along with one grandchild. She is fluent in English, Bengali, Hausa, and Hindi.
Books
- Hammer, Ruby; Kendall, Millie. (2000). Face Up: The Definitive Guide to Make-up. Ebury Publishing. .
See also
External links
- 1961 births
- Living people
- Nigerian people of Bangladeshi descent
- British people of Bangladeshi descent
- Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom
- British make-up artists
- British cosmetics businesspeople
- British women in business
- British columnists
- British Asian writers
- 21st-century British writers
- 21st-century British women writers
- Businesspeople from the City of Westminster
- Writers from the City of Westminster
- People from Maida Vale
- Alumni of City, University of London
- Bangladeshi Members of the Order of the British Empire
- British women columnists