Ozwald Boateng - Why Style Matters

Ozwald Boateng is one of the most influential people in the world of bespoke tailoring today, and to me, far more important than men like Patrick Grant who have, more or less, bought their way into the business. Ozwald really worked his way up the ranks, teaching himself how to tailor at the age of 16 and eventually quitting a mundane IT job and setting up a design studio in London. Within the past 25 years, he's managed to make it to Savile Row and significantly impact the world of modern tailoring. He's not only tailored suits for A-list celebrities David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Robbie Williams, Daniel Day Lewis, Jamie Foxx (among others), he's even suited president Barack Obama. The entire breadth of his accomplishments can be learned from a quick skim through his Wikipedia page, but I wanted to draw attention to this excellent documentary, Why Style Matters, that I found last year which gives some insight into the genius behind this man. I'm not a fan of all the clothing his namesake line produces, but I admire that he's been able to master classical tailoring at the same time experimenting with bold colors, cuts and proportions to develop new styles of modern suiting. The fact that nearly everything he produces is so tastefully done is truly a testament to his mastery of the art of tailoring.

Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Boateng recently held a 25th anniversary show, his first show for London Fashion Week, at the Odeon Theatre in Leicester Square, London where a new fragrance was unveiled and over 100 male models walked. During the show he previewed his latest endeavor; a documentary film, A Man's Story, which was shot over the past twelve years and "candidly charts his career and personal life."

In the above video, a procession of models and over 1,500 guests make their way from the Odeon Theatre back to his shop on Savile Row to celebrate the success of his momentous 25th anniversary show.