Adel Rootstein
British mannequin designer
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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][non-primary source needed] This was the start of her first collection, called "GoGo".[9][non-primary source needed] Her sources of inspiration expanded to music and clubs.[10][non-primary source needed] 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]
