When master tailor Andrew M. Ramroop OBE first arrived at Maurice Sedwell on Savile Row in 1974, he remembers there were no people of color working in customer-facing roles. Born in Trinidad, Ramroop had moved to the U.K. in 1970 to pursue his design ambitions—only to be told by another company that clients wouldn’t accept “foreigners” in front-of-house positions, suggesting he work in the back instead.

By 1988, after studying at the London College of Fashion, Ramroop made history as the first Black business owner on Savile Row when he took over Maurice Sedwell. Today, he remains at the helm as creative director, crafting exceptional suits for his distinguished clientele.

“Sartorial art—sculpting cloth around the human body—is what defines the Maurice Sedwell brand,” Ramroop tells Vogue. “I became the ‘first’ simply because no one else would hire me when I graduated. I didn’t fit in—wrong accent, wrong color, wrong decade. But I persevered, not to prove anything to anyone but myself.”

Now a legend in tailoring, Ramroop built his reputation during an era when few Black entrepreneurs received the support to thrive in the industry. “Despite the challenges I faced in ultra-bespoke tailoring, what truly matters is paving the way for others,” he says. “That has always been my purpose—my calling.”

In 2008, he founded the Savile Row Bespoke Academy, a premier tailoring school dedicated to training the next generation of elite artisans. “Savile Row is fiercely competitive—excellence is the standard,” Ramroop explains. “We focus on the highest craftsmanship, equipping tailors of all backgrounds to launch their own collections. My goal is to expand globally.”

Ramroop’s personal style is as distinctive as his achievements. Always impeccably suited, he embraces bold tailoring in his own wardrobe. “Fashion is fleeting; style is timeless,” he says. “Playing by the rules without imagination is boring to me.”

With the 2025 Met Gala celebrating Black dandyism, Ramroop’s work is featured in the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition—including his striking red silk-patterned tuxedo jacket for Maurice Sedwell.

As his legacy gains recognition, Ramroop hopes the world will appreciate Black excellence in tailoring and beyond. “I want people to see the artistry tailors bring to clothing the world,” he says. “Black dandies reinvented aristocratic dressing, making it their own. Style is individuality—they are the creators of elegance and grace.””Some had manners—others simply wore clothes.” A design by Maurice Sedwell.
Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Ramroop