When master tailor Andrew M. Ramroop OBE first joined Maurice Sedwell on Savile Row back in 1974, he remembers a time when there were no people of color working in the front of the shops. The Trinidad-born craftsman, who moved to the U.K. to pursue his design dreams in 1970, faced discrimination and was even told by another company that customers would not respond well to “foreigners” being in the front-of-house, suggesting he work in the back instead.
However, Ramroop persevered and in 1988, after studying at the London College of Fashion, he made history by becoming the first Black business owner on Savile Row, taking over the Maurice Sedwell tailoring house. Today, he still works there, creating exceptional suits for his impressive clientele while also serving as the creative director. “Sartorial art, sculpting cloth around the human body, is what I am about with the Maurice Sedwell brand,” Ramroop tells Vogue. “I became the ‘first’ simply because no one else would give me a job when I graduated; I didn’t fit in, wrong accent, wrong color, wrong decade. However, I persevered, not to prove anything to anyone but myself.”
Ramroop has become a legend in the tailoring world, known for building a suiting house during a time when few Black business owners received the necessary support to do so. “Despite the many challenges I have faced in my journey to excel in the field of ultra bespoke tailoring, what truly matters to me is creating a pathway for others to follow,” says Ramroop. “This value is and has been my purpose—my calling, if you like.”
In 2008, he founded the Savile Row Bespoke Academy, a leading tailoring school with the aim of training “elite tailors of the future to the pinnacle of sartorial excellence.” Ramroop is dedicated to providing up-and-coming tailors from all backgrounds with the tools they need to succeed. “Savile Row is one of the most competitive environments to excel in business; it is where delivering excellence is the norm,” says Ramroop. “We focus on delivering the highest standard of craftsmanship attainable. Our holistic training in all seven disciplines are essential foundations for artisans to start their own collections. My intention is to expand to other countries.”
Ramroop’s story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking barriers in the world of bespoke tailoring. His contributions to the industry have paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive future, inspiring the next generation of tailors to follow their dreams and make their mark on Savile Row.
