Adel Rootstein Display Mannequins

Above: Sculpted heads.

Last week, I was fortunate enough to visit the Adel Rootstein Display Mannequins factory and show room in West Kensington.
Rootstein mannequins are used worldwide, throughout the retail industry and are very highly regarded.

Above: The Rootstein building, West Kensington.

Adel Rootstein was born in South Africa in 1930. She moved to London at the age of 21 to work as a visual merchandiser and created her first collection called 'Model Girl' in 1956.
The process of mannequin creation is rather long and includes many stages. We were walked around the factory, seeing the first stages in the sculpting, all the way through to the final stages of wig creation and application of make up.

Above: Beautifully styled showroom mannequin.

I loved seeing the initial body forms being sculpted. They are so intricate and lifelike. From these clay sculptures, the moulds are formed. Each mould is then lined with fibreglass to form the mannequins body parts. Once assembled, the fibreglass is sprayed with many layers of skin tones, then painted with a full face of make up.
The Adel Rootstein Display Mannequins showroom is beautiful. The styling is very simple, yet elegant and aesthetically fascinating. Towering mannequins, dressed in swimwear and evening wear, are grouped at deferent levels throughout the space, all glammed up to a sense of high-fashion with diamond accessories, feathered hats and huge sunglasses.
If ever you have the opportunity to visit the Adel Rootstein Display Mannequins factory or showroom, I would highly recommend it!

If you're interested in this post, visit www.rootstein.com for more information regarding Adel Rootstein Display Mannequins.