Ozwald Boateng
United Kingdom
Ozwald Boateng is a London tailoring brand founded by British designer Ozwald Boateng, who brought vivid colour to Savile Row. He was creative director of menswear at Givenchy from 2004 to 2007 and designed British Airways uniforms launched in 2023.
| Designer and founder | Ozwald Boateng |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 February 1967, London |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Notable role | Givenchy menswear creative director (2004 to 2007) |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Website | ozwaldboateng.co.uk |
What is Ozwald Boateng?
Ozwald Boateng is a London bespoke and ready-to-wear tailoring brand named after its founder, an English designer born on 28 February 1967 in Muswell Hill to Ghanaian immigrants. The brand's website promotes bespoke couture and offers consultations and a tailoring range.
History
Boateng opened his first studio on Portobello Road in 1991. In 1994 he staged a catwalk show in Paris, reportedly the first tailor to do so. In 1995 he opened a boutique on Vigo Street at the south end of Savile Row and in 2002 moved fully into Savile Row. A flagship and headquarters at No. 30 Savile Row launched in 2008.
LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault appointed him creative director of menswear at Givenchy, and his first collection was shown in Paris in July 2004. He left after the Spring 2007 collection. Other projects include a women's perfume in 2003, a Coutts credit card design and Virgin Atlantic first-class amenity kits in 2004, and the British Airways x Ozwald Boateng uniform collection, designed from 2018 and launched in 2023.
Business model and distribution
Wikipedia describes a bespoke service at the Savile Row store and two ready-to-wear collections a year produced at the former Chester Barrie factory in Crewe, Cheshire. The brand's own website sells a tailoring range, and the sources reviewed do not describe wider retail distribution. The status of the Savile Row store after 2019 and any investor or ownership details were not verified.
Why it matters
Ozwald Boateng helped reshape the image of Savile Row tailoring through colour and showmanship, and his work for Givenchy and British Airways shows the reach of a tailoring brand into luxury ready-to-wear and corporate design. The official website domain ozwaldboateng.com was not active, so the .co.uk site is given.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ozwald Boateng?
Ozwald Boateng is a British tailor and designer born in London to Ghanaian parents. He is known for colourful bespoke tailoring from Savile Row.
Did Ozwald Boateng work for Givenchy?
Yes. Bernard Arnault appointed him creative director of menswear at Givenchy, with a first collection in July 2004, and he left after the Spring 2007 collection.