News
News
Welcome to our news page!
Curious about the latest updates, fun facts and interesting tidbits from the world of mannequins, window dressing and visual presentation? Then you've come to the right place! On this page we share everything that's going on within Mannequins and More and beyond. From inspiring customer stories and trends in shop presentation to handy tips and surprising facts about our products and brands.
Whether you are looking for practical information, a bit of inspiration or are just curious: we will keep you informed here. So come back regularly, because there is always something new to discover!
Twice Ballpark, twice Mannequins and More
When Ballpark Store opened its doors in 2024 in the atmospheric Weesp, we were already allowed by Mannequins and More to participate in the presentation in the store. Now, less than a year later, Ballpark is expanding to the heart of Utrecht - and there too, our busts are part of the unique overall picture.
From Weesp to Utrecht
On March 1, 2025, the new Ballpark Store opened on Schoutenstraat in Utrecht: a compact, characterful 90 m² store where style, personality and craftsmanship come together. With brands such as Drake's, Sebago, Filson and Shatsu, and a strong signature of its own, Ballpark has once again managed to create its own world - one in which our busts seamlessly match the atmosphere and presentation that Menco Nieuwenhuis and his team had in mind.
Trusted partnership
It was once again an honor for us to contribute to the visual identity of this second location. The collaboration with Menco and his team is one in which craftsmanship and attention to detail are central – exactly what we find important at Mannequins and More. The new store is managed by Derk van der Linden, who is taking his first steps in entrepreneurship in addition to his studies at TMO Fashion Business School. With his fresh perspective and sense of style, this location promises to be a success again.
More than retail
Ballpark is more than just a store – behind the scenes, Menco also works on creative projects through his agency BALLPARK STUDIOS, bringing brands and people together in inspiring concepts. We are proud to be involved as a permanent partner in this growing story, and look forward to everything that is yet to come.
Stockman, elegant shapes, realistic sizes
At Siegel & Stockman, everything revolves around the beauty of the female body in all its variations. Since the 19th century, they have been making busts and mannequins in various shapes and sizes, tailored to different body types and fashion trends. What started with the standardization of ready-to-wear sizes by Fredric Stockman in 1887, has grown into a global brand that supplies busts to top designers, window displays and fashion houses all over the world.
Whether it is the slim waist of a French couture doll or a bust model adapted to the Japanese or American body shape – each doll is handmade, with an eye for detail and elegance. From classic papier-mâché to modern fibreglass models, Siegel & Stockman remains the reference for busts that really fit.
A look back at a fashion icon.
At the Kunstmuseum Den Haag, fashion, art and craftsmanship came together in an impressive way during the large-scale exhibition about the legendary fashion house Dior. The exhibition offered a rich and inspiring journey through the history of the house, from the revolutionary 'New Look' of Christian Dior to the contemporary interpretations of his successors.
The refined Stockman busts by Mannequins and More played a subtle but indispensable role in the presentation. As stylish, understated carriers, they gave the couture creations a stage on which shape, cut and texture were shown to their best advantage. Each silhouette seemed to have been brought to life with care, carried by busts that were completely at the service of fashion itself.
Although the exhibition has now ended, the memory of this visual ode to elegance and craftsmanship will continue to resonate for a long time. The Kunstmuseum Den Haag proved once again that fashion is not just clothing, but an art form that continues to touch us.I
A look behind the scenes at Siegel & Stockman, purveyor to the fashion world.
"We have been making busts by hand for over 150 years – without machines."
During Paris Fashion Week, we meet Louis-Michel Deck, director of the ateliers at Siegel & Stockman – the iconic French brand that has been creating busts for couturiers, ateliers and fashion houses around the world since 1867. In their workshop in Gennevilliers, just outside Paris, everything still revolves around craftsmanship, precision and respect for the body in all its forms.
“What a lot of people don’t know,” Deck begins, “is that making a bust is about ten steps. And we still do it by hand, the same way we did a century and a half ago. No machines, just craftsmanship.”
From papier-mâché to couture
The basis of each bust is a plaster mold, of which Stockman has about 250 to 300 in different shapes and sizes – tailored to all body types and revised every five to six years. Layers of recycled papier-mâché are applied to this mold, secured with a water-based glue. The bust is then put in the oven for twelve hours at 60 degrees. The shape is then cut loose, reinforced with new layers, and air-dried.
“We then sand the model smooth by hand and check the measurements at all times. The smallest deviation can have a major impact on how a garment hangs.”
Then comes the dressing of the bust: first a layer of wadding, then a tight layer of organic cotton, linen or fabric supplied by the customer. Only then comes the finishing: a wooden base, metal stand, neck finish and the typical logo. The entire process takes an average of 72 hours per bust.
Custom made for every body
What sets Stockman apart is that each bust is adapted to the customer's wishes and the morphology of the target group.
“Body proportions vary by region,” Deck explains. “A Japanese woman has a very different build than someone from Northern Europe. In Scandinavia, busts are often longer and with wider necks. In Asia, we make smaller sizes. And in the Middle East, we even developed a model from size 36 to size 60 – while maintaining proportions thanks to 3D technology.”
Although fashion designers often work with size 36, Stockman sells most busts in size 38 – slimmer, longer, less busty, tailored to contemporary silhouettes.
“We work with Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier and Saint Laurent, among others,” Deck proudly says. “One of our most iconic models was designed by Christian Dior himself in 1947 – and is still one of our best-sellers.”
Sustainable craftsmanship
In addition to their artisanal approach, Siegel & Stockman is also committed to sustainable production. All fabrics are organic, the wood comes from French forests, and residual materials are reused through local initiatives such as La Réserve des Arts.
“Even our paint is free of harmful substances, and we use cardboard made from recycled materials. We have already reduced our waste and solvent use by more than 50 percent,” says Deck. “But we continue to improve.”
Tradition with a future
With around 30,000 busts per year, Stockman supplies fashion studios, fashion houses, fashion stores, fashion schools and museums worldwide. And although the company embraces modernization, the core values remain unchanged: quality, precision and elegance.
“Some of our people have been working here for more than thirty years,” says Deck. “There is no school for this profession, so we train our new colleagues ourselves. They learn the craft step by step – with an eye for detail and a love for the profession.”
Whether it's haute couture or ready-to-wear, a size 34 or a custom made 60, at Siegel & Stockman every body gets the perfect fit.
