Adel Rootstein - Mannequin design

Tucked away in the heart of south west London is the mannequin design company Adel Rootstein.

I’ve always been quite captivated by mannequins and the attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into making them fascinates me. When an email landed in my inbox in mid-January saying I was welcome to come along to the studio to photograph, I jumped at the chance.

The company was founded by South African Adel Rootstein and her husband in Soho in the sixties. They began by producing handcrafted mannequins using the latest fibreglass technology. After Rootstein died in 1992, the business was bought by a Japanese company with production continuing in the UK.

The mannequins themselves are made in Buckinghamshire. At the Fulham studio the mannequins have make-up and wigs applied according to the clients’ needs. It’s to here that they are sent for repairs which can mean anything from resprays and make-up updates to full-scale overhauls and replacing broken parts.

Rootstein’s is steeped in history and the studio is a treasure trove of wonder. This is the start of a project I am working on about UK manufacturing, showcasing some of the incredible work and talent being produced within the UK. I’m excited to take a peek and photograph behind the scenes.

All images Katie Collins Photography 

Available from EMPICS at PA Images