Bonaveri Magazine

In rediscovering the appearance and forms of
Imogen Woodford, Jill Kennington, Patti Boyd,
and many more Rootstein characters, one
can appreciate the enormous breadth and
significance of decades long records of fashion
aesthetic.
At the beginning of the 1970s, Rootstein set out
to find inspiration from models and personalities
who possessed unique and magnetic charm.
Marie Helvin, girlfriend of fashion photographer
David Bailey, Japanese model pioneer Sayoko,
American model Tina Chow and the legendary
Pat Cleveland, are the leading figures of those
years. They were all models who garnered
incredible success, united by an exotic charm
that Adel identified as pivotal aspects for an
industry seeking novelty.
The models of the 1980s reflect a desire for
glamour, charm and power: decadent desires
embodied in captivating figures such as those
of actress Joan Collins and model Dianne
Brill. In the 1990s, emerged the collections
dedicated to Yasmine Le Bon, while in the
2000s characters such as Erin O’Connor and
Coco Rocha are Rootstein’s muses.
The Rootstein archive is a journey through time,
encapsulated in the archive of motionless figures
that have animated store windows for many
decades. It is precisely this unique heritage that
inspired Bonaveri towards acquiring the brand,
moved by the desire to transform a formidable
aesthetic tradition according to its sensitivity
and craftsmanship.
Bonaveri is not new to these types of
acquisitions. In 2001, it acquired the iconic
Swiss mannequin brand Schläppi, which, under
Bonaveri’s seasoned management team,
experienced an unprecedented revival and
has now become the point of reference for the
stylized mannequin.
With the same driving force, Bonaveri set its
sights on Rootstein, a company that forged
its notable identity as the reference brand for
the realistic mannequin. “Rootstein represents a
milestone in the evolution of mannequins” - states
Andrea Bonaveri, CEO of the Company - “having been
the first to give a form to contemporary aesthetics,
inspired by models and real-life figures who perfectly
embodied the spirit of the time. With this acquisition
we were able to make a dream come true. It is our
intention to embrace this legacy and elevate it to a new
splendour, updating it with our aesthetic sensibility
and manufacturing capability. This acquisition is the
expression of a strategy that has led us to acquire the
world’s top player in the realistic mannequin market”.
We now turn our attention to back to Twiggy and her
irreverent gaze. Nestled within this unusual silhouette
is an enigmatic personality, radiating charm from her
distinctive and instantly recognizable expression. Our
time travel is almost complete; a full circle journey for
Twiggy who’s appearance defined the 1960s and will
again bring joy to a new audience today.
The new Twiggy collection includes hair and makeup
that personifies the famous model: the motif on
the eyelids, as well as the drawn eyelashes, without
forgetting the freckles that contributed to giving it
that cheeky and youthful air. The soft shade of the
mannequin is re-proposed with a light finish, in Pale
Cameo colour.
A great labour of love has been carried out in the
Bonaveri workshop, to marry the spirit of the past
with needs of the present. Twiggy’s new silhouette is
a contemporary interpretation of a new era, whilst still
honouring the spirit of the original.
Our makeup artists have added delicate touches
through distinctive makeup and hairstyles that
reference the original soul of the mannequin.
The result is a figure that embodies the spirit of our
times, one that contains the essence, magnetism and
the allure of the original form. Even in the world of
realistic mannequins, reality is never an objective. The
creative process intervenes and calls for an original
interpretation of an emblematic symbol.
Hidden within this story is an artistic mediation that
reworks the future chapters of our very first Rootstein
collection.
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