The Hidden Genius Who Made Mannequins Come Alive

What Happened Fashion icon Zandra Rhodes recently chose Adel Rootstein (1930-1992) as her “history hero” in an interview with History Extra, revealing the remarkable story of a woman who revolutionized an entire industry that most people never think about. Rootstein, born in South Africa to Russian parents, became Britain’s leading mannequin designer from the late 1950s onward, founding the successful Rootstein company with her husband Richard Hopkins. Rootstein’s breakthrough came when she recognized a fundamental problem in retail: the mannequins used to display clothing were crude “lumps of plaster” that made even beautiful garments look unappealing.