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 nameAdel 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.

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.

Career

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

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

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.

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

Rootstein Hopkins Foundation

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

Personal life

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

Rootstein died on 20 September 1992 in London aged 62.

Legacy

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

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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 "Adel Rootstein's early days". Rootstein. Bonaveri. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  6. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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.