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In 1988, Trinidad-born Andrew Madan Ramroop became the first man of colour to own a business in London's prestigious Savile Row.
The achievement came 18 years after he had migrated to England from his home at Maingot Road, Tunapuna, where he was born on November 10th, 1952. In 1970, Ramroop left Trinidad aboard the luxury liner Northern Star and headed to England with hopes of beginning a career as a tailor's apprentice. He, however, was turned down for many jobs on Savile Row. "In those early days, my accent wasn't what it is now and I was applying for jobs to be at the front of the shop to cut and to fit and to meet clients," Ramroop told the BBC. "People wanted to protect their own businesses and they were being realistic in saying this guy won't suit the front of the shop," he said gratiously. Ramroop began his London training as a backroom trainee for a Savile Row institution, Huntsman & Son. In 1974, he found a position as an assistant cutter with Maurice Sedwell—the only shop on Savile Row that would hire a non-white tailor. Ramroop mastered his craft, and worked his way to the top, becoming managing director of the business in 1982 and then buying the company in 1988. In the early days, Ramroop was confined to making alterations. The big break came when a client personally asked for him to oversee an entire fitting. Ramroop's reputation was soon sealed through personal recommendations - and at one point he was dressing half a dozen British cabinet ministers. Famously, he also designed the cashmere jacket worn by Princess Diana in her infamous 'Panorama' interview on British television. Over the years, Sedwell sold Ramroop shares in the business, until he had accumulated 45%. The crunch time came in 1988 when Ramroop wanted to leave to set up his own business. Sedwell eventually persuaded him to stay and sold him a further 45% in the business. Eight years after taking over the business, Ramroop expanded the premises from 500 to 3,000 square feet. Located on London’s Fleet Street, Maurice Sedwell Ltd. grew from a gold medal-winning tailor shop to one of the UK’s best known names in Bespoke Tailoring. Today, he owns and runs Maurice Sedwell on 19 Savile Row, making bespoke suits for customers around the world. Ramroop has been featured in a BBC 2 documentary on Black Firsts. He has been named by 'Complex' as one of Britain's Greatest Designers. Among other accolades, Ramroop was the first tailor to be awarded a professorship at the London College of Fashion for distinction in his field in 2001 and, in 2005, was awarded the Chaconia Medal Gold by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2008, the Master Tailor founded the Savile Row Academy (SRA) to train the tailors of tomorrow, and was also handed an OBE honour from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Video via BBC London
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