Leonard Rutan was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While he was a Sales Manager for a manufacturing lighting firm, he met Jackie who was a stylist for a pattern company. Shortly after meeting they moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they worked together at Halpern’s Fabrics. Leonard took the store manager position, presiding over the interior fabric and design department while Jackie taught sewing classes. Not long after, Halpern’s transferred the talented couple to its Houston store on Post Oak Blvd. Frost Bro’s in San Antonio soon learned about Leonard’s talent and the company recruited him as buyer of fine fabrics.

In 1968, Bernard Sakowitz learned about Leonard’s success and taste level. He called to ask him to his stores to help build the existing fabric department. With this challenge ahead of him, Leonard traveled to New York, throughout Europe and the Orient buying beautiful fabrics, not only for the fabric department, but also for Sakowitz’s private label ready-to-wear.

At the same time, Bernard heard about Jackie’s talent and immediately opened sewing classes in all his stores. Leonard’s skill in the area earned him an invitation to Ideacomo, the Italian textile exhibition held at Cernobbio, Italy (Lake Como). He was the only American buyer to be given this distinction. Other guests were fashion designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo, Yves St. Laurent, Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, Jean Louis Sherrer, Mdme. Galitzne etc., who were purchasing fabrics for their upcoming collections.

With the demise of Sakowitz on the horizon, Jackie left the store in 1983. Leonard departed in 1984. His career took a detour when he worked briefly for a boutique in Dallas and then for Isabell Gerhart in Houston.

After 23 years of building up retail businesses for other people, Leonard and Jackie opened their own store in October 1987 at 2710 Kirby Drive. At one time, the entire family, including the family dog (Kirby) worked together.

August 23, 2005….After 18 years at the same location on Kirby Drive, the exclusive ladies specialty apparel store moved to 3733 Westheimer Road. The 2500 square foot store offers the most exclusive design found anywhere in the world. With the greatest attention to fine fabrics, color and design paired with the best construction detail.

Leonard Rutan has won the following of a large group of Houston women who rely on his staff’s intimate knowledge of fabric, fit, design and construction of clothing. He credits his success by the number of repeat customers he serves.