In an industry as wide and as dynamic as fashion, it takes something very unique to make it – and Ozwald Boateng has this in just his name, in addition to his talents. An Englishman with Ghanaian roots, Boateng has taken the sophisticated and classic English style of tailoring, especially in menswear, and put his own spin on it, creating a new line of contemporary clothing that has redefined style in the country.
Ozwald Boateng was born in North London and from an early age, was impressed by the elegance of the suits his father, a teacher, wore all the time. At the age of eight, Boateng got his first suit and by the time he was a teenager, knew that bespoke was the industry for him. Inspired by his mother, a seamstress, Boateng took on a job while in high school sewing linings in suits, later moving on to cutting and designing while at Southgate College. With the help of his mother’s old sewing machine, Boateng began turning his designs into reality and took it one step further by helping with a fashion show.
Boateng debuted his first menswear line in a shop in Covent Garden and on Newburgh Street. This proved to be a success, allowing Boateng to open a studio on Portobello Road in London in 1991. Soon, Boateng joined Paris Fashion Week, presenting his collection and opening a boutique in Savile Row in 1995. Boateng’s sharp, new approach to suits drew in the younger crowd, helping put suits back on the rack as popular wear. In 2005, Boateng’s work of 20 years was celebrated in an event at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He has also collaborated with other famous fashion labels such as Givenchy and Coutts, and designed Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class amenity kits. Ozwald Boateng’s work has also been featured in films and television shows, more notably “James Bond 007: Tomorrow Never Dies”, “Sex and the City”, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “The Matrix”.
Leadership Intellect 