Adel Rootstein

Adel Rootstein
Адель Рутштейн
Born(1930-09-15)15 September 1930
Warmbaths, Union of South Africa
Died20 September 1992(1992-09-20) (aged 62)
London, UK
Other namesAdel Hopkins
Occupations
OrganisationAdel Rootstein
Spouse
Richard Hopkins
​
(m. 1953)​

Adel Rootstein (married name Adel Hopkins; Russian: Адель Рутштейн; 15 September 1930 – 20 September 1992) was a South African-born British mannequin designer, visual merchandiser and founder of the Adel Rootstein mannequin company.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Adel Rootstein was born on 15 September 1930 in Warmbaths, Union of South Africa (present-day Bela-Bela, South Africa) to Russian parents.[2][3][5]

Career

In 1951, at age 21, Rootstein relocated to London to work as a visual merchandiser and window dresser for Aquascutum.[5][6][7] Rootstein later worked as a mannequin wig maker.[8]

In the late 1956, Rootstein founded her mannequin business 'Adel Rootstein' alongside her husband Richard Hopkins, an industrial designer.[2][5][6] She first hired sculptor John Taylor and model Imogen for her first mannequin, placed in a reclining position.[9] This was the start of her first collection, called "GoGo".[9] Her sources of inspiration expanded to music and clubs.[10] In 1959, Rootstein established a factory in London to manufacture her fibreglass mannequins.[11]

Rootstein has been called the "Rolls-Royce" of mannequin makers, and later used well-known singers and actresses as models for her mannequins; Cher, Joan Collins and Twiggy among them.[12]

In 1991, 'Adel Rootstein' was sold to the Japanese mannequin manufacturer Yoshichu, a frequent collaborator of Rootstein.[13][11] Following the sale of the business, Rootstein enrolled at the Slade School of Fine Art.[14]

Rootstein Hopkins Foundation

In 1990, Rootstein and her husband Rick Hopkins set up the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation to assist young artists and designers.[15]

Personal life

In 1953, Rootstein married Richard 'Rick' Hopkins (1927-2000) in Kensington.[2][16]

Rootstein died on 20 September 1992 in London aged 62.[2][3]

Legacy

Rootstein's mannequins were used for the Miu Miu Pre-Fall 2017 presentation.[17]

References

  1. ^ de la Haye, Amy (2018). OBJECTS OF A PASSION: Curating, Writing and Teaching as Practice 2014-18 (PDF). London: University of the Arts London, Centre for Fashion Curation. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e d'Silva, Beverley (24 September 1992). "Obituary: Adel Rootstein". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Adel Hopkins [Death Index]". England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. 15. London: General Register Office: 1601. 1992.
  4. ^ "Adel Rootstein". Search the Collection. London: National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "Adel Rootstein's early days". Rootstein. Bonaveri. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "The History of Rootstein: The Legacy of Adel". ADEL ROOTSTEIN LTD. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  7. ^ loukia (8 February 2016). "Icons in the LCF Archive". London College of Fashion Stories. London College of Fashion. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  8. ^ Arpino, Kevin (23 January 2009). "Mannequins". Woman's Hour Fashion + Beauty Archive. London: BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Rootstein - the World's Leading Mannequin Designer". Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Rootstein: Adel Rootstein's early days - History / About / Early Days". www.rootstein.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b Nash, Deborah (16 January 2025). "The woman who brought shop-window mannequins to life". London: Apollo. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  12. ^ Carol McKinley (30 December 2019). "Sculptors at a Lafayette mannequin factory are shaping more realistic body types for stores worldwide". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2019. 'If Talaric is the Henry Ford [of mannequin makers], Rootstein is the Rolls-Royce,' Townsend says. 'Her older mannequins are collector's items … she's the one who started designing mannequins after celebrity models. Like Joan Collins, Cher and Twiggy.'
  13. ^ "Rootstein: Adel Rootstein's early days - History / About / Early Days". www.rootstein.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Rootstein Hopkins Foundation". Contemporary Art Society; Organisations. London: Contemporary Art Society. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Rootstein Hopkins Foundation". British Museum Collection online. London: British Museum. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Adel Rootshtain [Rootstein] and Richard C Hopkins [Marriage Index]". England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. 5c (Q3). London: General Register Office: 2824. 1953.
  17. ^ Tindle, Hannah (10 February 2017). "The Storied History Behind Miu Miu's Rootstein Mannequins". AnOther. London: Dazed Media. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
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