Ozwald Boateng: The Story So Far...

Son of Ghanaian parents growing up in London, Ozwald never dreamt of becoming a fashion designer but by the time he was 18 he was selling his tailored made clothes to boutiques. It was only when he enrolled on a computer studies course at college that he started to develop an interest in fashion. Helping his girlfriend cut material for her design project Ozwald started to enjoy and then develop the skills he would need to be a leading menswear tailor.

The decision to walk away from his college course came as a shock to his academically minded farther, however Ozwald quickly expanded his tailoring business, opening a studio on Portobello Road, before going onto to present his first catwalk show in Paris just three years later.

His fresh and contemporary approach to menswear design soon began attracting a new demographic of young clientele, but the real mark of his success came with the opening a store on the world famous home of gentleman's tailoring - Saville Row. As the first black man and youngest ever tailor on the renowned street, Ozwald has been heralded as ‘the King of Saville Row,’ credited for revitalising old tailoring traditions and introducing colour and flare to classic design. And his innovations have not gone unnoticed, pulling in celebrity clients such as Will Smith, Jude Law and Jamie Foxx, who he dressed for his OSCAR acceptance.

Working on various projects, Ozwald continuously takes on new opportunities to push his creativity into new avenues, famously being appointed as Creative Director of Menswear at Givenchy in 2004. Accompanying his skilful tailoring is a keen eye for cinematography, and many of his catwalk shows feature short films, created and directed by Ozwald, to compliment the line.

In addition to his evolutionary work in menswear design, Ozwald has used his influence to give to causes he feels a particular connection with, namely his work in Ghana to celebrate 50 years of independence, as well as working with young people to foster and nurture creativity. Having received an OBE and honorary degree for his contributions to fashion and the creative industry, Ozwald continues to act as an inspirational role model, while producing designs that shape the future of menswear.