Designer Biography: Ozwald Boateng

At a very young age, Ozwald became intrigued with the act of tailoring. While studying at Southwark College, he was introduced to cutting and designing of clothes by his girlfriend at the tender age of 16. From this point on he became obsessed with design, devising a signature fusion of traditional tailoring with exotically colourful fabrics. With the help of his mother who was an excellent seamstress, he started selling his mother’s designs to passersby along the road.

He sold his first collection to a menswear shop in Covent Garden in 1991 and at the age of 23, he started his own business of making bespoke suits. In 1994, 27 year old Ozwald Boateng made a name for himself as a menswear designer when he became the youngest and 1^st black tailor to open a store on Savile Row in London.

He was also the first tailor to stage a catwalk show in Paris during a presentation at the Paris Fashion Week.

Over the past two decades, he has interpreted the British art of bespoke tailoring, traditional craftsmanship and innovations awesome of the cornerstones of his label. Since the inception of his fashion label, he has since extended its bespoke expertise to semi-bespoke, ready-to-wear, shoe accessories and luggage.

This former creative director of Givenchy menswear was named the best male designer by France’s Trophees de la Mode. He has clients like Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Mick Jagger, Spike Lee, Forest Whitaker Richard Branson Idris Alba and a host of other celebrities under his belt. His work has been seen on many runways across the world, he recently showcased at the New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and he closed the show at the Arise Magazine ‘African Icons’ Fashion Week.

This flamboyant tailor is definitely a force to reckon with in the fashion industry. He remains one of the most relevant gatekeepers; he gave tailored gears a new relevance in the fashion world.