Fashion Men: Andrew Ramroop & Yosl Tiefenbrunn

Maurice Sedwell Studio

Andrew Ramroop O.B.E

Prof. Andrew Ramroop, O.B.E. owner and tailor of Maurice Sedwell and principal of Savile Row Academy

Maurice Sedwell (l). Experience in the Marine made him less prejudiced than his neighbours in Savile Row. | Auf Grund von Erfahrungen in der Marine hatte er weniger Vorurteile gegenüber Menschen anderer Herkunft.

German:  Die Geschichte zweier außergewöhnlicher Männer, ein Rabbiner aus London und ein Trinidadischer Schneider, die sich entgegen konventioneller Normen durchsetzten.  Mehr im Bericht in der Jüdischen Allgemeinen

Link: http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/16447

English:

When I was asked by the Jüdische Allgemeine, the main German Jewish Weekly, to check on Yosl Tiefenbrunn, who is taking an apprentice at Maurice Sedwell‘s in Savile Row it was clear to me from the outset that his was not the only story.  That Prof. Andrew Ramroop, O.B.E.,  came with two suits from Trinidad, with his mind strongly set to become a Savile Row tailor and achieving this against racist prejudice, is a remarkable tale of human endurance, ambition and effort.  Ramroop follows a remarkable line of Trinidadians – but a relatively small island in the Caribbean – in relation to the UK, be it Claudia Jones, Eric Williams, or Lord Learie Constantine, and their own respective achievements.

That now he should have an apprentice who is an orthodox Chabad rabbi is certainly no mistake.  In fact, Andrew Ramroop told me he recognised that Tiefenbrunn may have difficulties convincing some to take him on, with his beard and special religious needs.  Tiefenbrunn’s interest and dedication to be a world-class tailor and introduce some nuances of individuality in Haredi fashion is unusual and astonishing at the same time.  But Tiefenbrunn notes that he is not the first Jewish tailor nor that the Orthodox Jewish world lacks tailoring today.

When you hear that Ramroop serves clients like Samuel L Jackson, and once designed for the late Lady Diana, against initial adversity, one wonders to what lengths the Rabbi with the needle will bring it.

The article can be read in German here:  http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/16447

You can use Googletranslate to translate it into any language you prefer.

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