Ozwald Boateng

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Ozwald Boateng
Born	London
Nationality	British
Labels	Ozwald Boateng

Ozwald Boateng was born in London in the late 1960s. He was the first tailor to stage a catwalk show in Paris^[1], and is credited with revolutionising Savile Row. Boateng coined the term bespoke couturier. He also redefined the cut of the traditional suit and fused it with colour, and his more contemporary approach to menswear design drew in a younger demographic to Savile Row^[2].

Contents 1 Early Career 2 Entering Savile Row 3 Ozwald Boateng and Givenchy 4 V & A 5 Annual African Union Summit 6 REACH panel 7 Coutts 8 Virgin Atlantic 9 Fragrance 10 House of Boateng 11 Short films 12 Flagship store 13 Awards 14 List of prominent clientele 15 Wardrobe design for film 16 Quotes about Boateng 17 References

[edit] Early Career

Boateng began tailoring at the age of 16. He set up a design studio on London’s Portobello Road at age 23, and his reputation as a British tailor grew. He was inspired and guided by Savile Row tailor Tommy Nutter, and In 1994, Boateng realised his dream of opening a business in Savile Row with his store on Vigo Street, at the end of the Row^[3].

[edit] Entering Savile Row

Boateng’s company headquarters in Savile Row launched in May 2002.^[4].

In addition to his bespoke service, for which he continually updates his extensive range of fabrics and silk linings, Boateng also produces two ready-to-wear collections a year, which are sold internationally and through his flagship store and are shown each season during the Menswear Collections in Milan. ^[5]

Through his attention to cut, detail, tailoring, and use of colour, Boateng has received many awards and appointments in the last decade^[6]. In 2002 he was invited by the Bundes President of Germany to put on a fashion show in aid of charity, at his residence in Berlin, the Schloss Bellvue.

[edit] Ozwald Boateng and Givenchy

The President of LVMH Bernard Arnault appointed Ozwald in 2003 as Creative Director of Menswear at the French Fashion house Givenchy.^[7]. His first collection for this Parisian house was shown in July 2004 in Paris, at Hotel de Ville^[8]. Boateng parted with Givenchy after the Spring 2007 collection.

[edit] V & A

In 2005 Ozwald celebrated 20 years in British Tailoring and was honoured with a retrospective event at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 2006 Ozwald Boateng was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to the tailoring industry^[9].

In 2007 Ozwald was appointed to the Mayor of London Skills and Employment Board^[10].

In the same year he was also recognised by the world economic forum as a young global leader^[11]. The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a community of leaders below 40 who are ready to dedicate a part of their time and energy to jointly work towards a better future.

[edit] Annual African Union Summit

Ozwald was also invited by the President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor on July 2, 2007, to design and orchestrate a show in which some of the most prominent individuals of African descent presented what could be done if they stood together. The state banquet at the 9th Annual African Union Summit in 2007, held in Accra, Ghana, coincided with 200 years since the cessation of the transatlantic slave trade and 50 years of independence for Ghana.^[12]

Most recently he has also been appointed as an advisor to the Ashanti King^[who?] to advise him on all matters concerning the African Diaspora.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] REACH panel

In 2008, Ozwald Boateng was appointed to the REACH committee as part of an independent panel to identify and recruit national role models who will work to help raise aspirations of black boys^[13].

[edit] Coutts

In 2004, Coutts Bank approached Ozwald to design a new Super-Premium credit card^[14]. Ozwald designed the new Coutts ‘World Credit Card’ in his trademark imperial purple. Sales went up 16% within 1 year of Ozwald designing the card equaling a profit contribution of £468 million.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Virgin Atlantic

In 2004, Ozwald Boateng was called upon by close friend and client, Sir Richard Branson, to design new amenity kits for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. They are lauded as the most stylish first class kits available to travelers on any airline^[15]. The design was so successful that it increased pick rate^{[clarification needed]} fivefold.

[edit] Fragrance

Ozwald Boateng has also launched a perfume for women. Parfum Bespoke comprises two different vials of fragrance within an elongate, jewel-like bottle.^[3]

[edit] House of Boateng

On June 22, 2006, the Sundance Channel and Reveille LLC released an eight part documentary series called ‘House of Boateng’ tracking the journey of Ozwald Boateng, as he embarks on the expansion of his brand in the United States^[16]. The series gives an insight into the legal, financial and creative aspects of the business as well as going behind the scenes as he outfits celebrities for film and gala events, directs his own short films and juggles his demanding trans-continental schedule with his family obligations to his wife and two young children. The series, which was produced by Robert Redford and Ben Silverman and created by Varon Bonicos and Todd Cohen, was shown throughout America to great acclaim. Due to the series success, Ozwald has been approached to do a second series and a feature length film.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Short films

Ozwald’s passion and appreciation for film and cinematography^{[citation needed]} has inspired him to write and direct short films, reflecting, periods of times in his life as well as the inspirations behind some of his collections and designs. To date Ozwald has written and directed over 10 short films, with his latest film ‘No Boundaries’ written and produced by Varon Bonicos, selected to premiere at the 2006 Tremblant film festival, Montreal, Canada received the runner up award in the short film category ^[17]. The film was shot on location Guilin district of China and features over 800 soldiers from the Chinese army engaged in a choreographed fight. He also presented his first collection for Givenchy at a show in Paris, which opened the show with his first animation – a Japanese, manga-style piece that he directed. The animation told the story of how he came to be appointed as Creative Director of Givenchy Menswear, and the journey he planned to take the brand on.

[edit] Flagship store

His long-term dream of merging his head quarters and his flag ship store with a prominent Savile Row Store site, was finally realised this year^[when?], heralding the commencement of a period of major expansion for his eponymous brand^[18]. New stand-alone stores, in London, Moscow and Dubai, the US and the Middle East are planned in the next 3 years. Ozwald is also keen to develop an Interiors line.

Ozwald’s ready-to-wear main-line collections are now sold in department stores, including Selfridges’ stores throughout the UK and Harvey Nichols in Dubai ^[19] as well as many of the top independent clothing stores across Europe and America.

[edit] Awards

Year	Awarded as:	Awarded by:
1996	Best Male Designer	Trophees de la Mode, Paris[20]
2000	Top Menswear Designer	British Fashion Awards[21]
2002	Best Male Designer	Cologne Fashion Awards[21]
2006	OBE for services to the clothing industry	Order of the British Empire[22]
2006	2nd Runner up in the short film category	Tremblant Film Festival, Montreal Canada[23]
2008	Fashion Personality of the year	Mayfair Times Award[24]

[edit] List of prominent clientele

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009)

Alain Lorenzo, Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, Billy Zane, Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, David Arquette, Damon Buffini, Daniel Day Lewis, David Bowie,Martin,Dhani Jones, Djimon Hounsou, Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker, Gerard Butler, Gavin Rosdale, George Michael, Herbie Hancock, Hugh Hackman, Jamie Foxx, James Greenfield, Joel Silver, Joseph Fiennes, Jason Statham, Rev Jesse Jackson, Jonathan Ross, Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne,Tony Henriques da Silva, Lenny Kravitz, Lex Fenwick, Lennox Lewis, Sir Mick Jagger, Reginald Carson, Matt Damon, Michael Essien, Matthew Freud, Nasir Jones, Nick Moran, Paul Bettany, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Branson, Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone, Robbie Williams, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Seal, Usher, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, Yves Carcelle, Alan Yau, Grant Morrison, Obed K. Baah, Nissan Motors.

[edit] Wardrobe design for film

Ozwald Boateng’s extensive work for film and television includes such titles as Hannibal, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Tomorrow Never Dies, Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Eastern Promises, Gangster Number One, Alfie, Assault on Precinct 13, The Matrix, Miami Vice, Oceans 13, and Rush Hour 3.

[edit] Quotes about Boateng

“The British designer with a penchant for firsts has just made fashion History in France”^[25]

His extrovert persona and flamboyant tailoring have drawn a stellar list of clients that includes Samuel L Jackson, Daniel Day Lewis and Russell Crowe”^[26]

“There’s no doubt Ozwald Boateng is among British menswear’s most vociferous voices”^[27]

“He was one of the first new breed of menswear designers to invade the row and has helped reinvent the place” ^[28]

“When you wear an Ozwald Boateng suit you become a statesman of cool” (—Laurence Fishburne)^[29]

“It’s Ozwald Boateng’s self belief, as well as his consummate skill as a Savile Row tailor that has got him where he is today. His instinctive approach to creativity and passion for the perfect cut will take him wherever he wants to go”^[30]

[edit] References