By the time he was in his 20s, Ozwald Boateng had established himself as one of Savile Row’s great disruptors. Armed with jewel-toned fabrics, razor-sharp tailoring, and a talent for blending British tradition with global influences, he challenged convention while remaining rooted in the heritage of one of luxury’s oldest institutions.
Three decades later, Boateng’s influence extends beyond menswear. His work has taken him around the world, onto the screen, and into interiors and design, shaped in no small part by a life defined by travel and his dual British-Ghanaian heritage.
For Boateng, creativity has always been inseparable from movement. From school trips that first exposed him to different cultures to years spent traveling between continents, inspiration is drawn from the people, places, and energy heencountered along the way.
That same philosophy underpins Authenticity, his new collaboration with Savoir. Another British institution with travel in its DNA, Savoir’s story began at The Savoy hotel in 1905, and the bespoke bed maker enlisted Boateng to bring the language of Savile Row tailoring and the symbolism of the Kente cloth into the bedroom.
For our First & Lasts series, Boateng reflects on the childhood luxury experience that unknowingly foreshadowed his career, feeling at home at Jay-Z’s Oscars after-party, and what makes great design – whether in a suit, a suite, or a bed.
What was the very first place you traveled to that changed how you see the world?
The only way I could answer that question is that wherever I go in the world always influences my creativity, because you can be inspired by just going out the door right now.
Even if it's a cloudy day in London, and without a lot of sun, you might see one little thing that triggers a creative idea. For me, exposure to different cultures and traveling globally has always been important. I've been to most of the continents in the world, and every experience influences me in some way.
When and what was your first experience of luxury?
It was probably when I had my first suit made for me when I was five. I remember it was for my birthday, and my mum got a tailor to make something for me because I was too small. My mum loved clothes, and having that piece made for me really shaped me.
In fact, it was a double-breasted purple mohair suit, which is amazing because that's something I'm very well known for doing as a designer.
What's one place you'd like to revisit and experience again for the first time?
I've been to Brazil. I went there for the first time during the World Cup and traveled all over the country. It was an amazing experience, and I must have been there for the whole month.
But because I was there for the football, I'm not sure I had the real Brazil experience. Obviously, football is a huge part of the culture, the color and the energy, but I'd like to spend more time there without running around seeing matches.
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1 Hotel Mayfair
What's the first thing you notice when you check into somewhere new?
I like design, so I'm someone who notices color and texture. When it comes to hotels, sometimes it's not necessarily your own creative language, but you can still appreciate and understand the creative language being used. I like a place to have a point of view, and I like it to have amazing attention to detail. I also like spaces to feel sexy and comfortable.
What was the first time you traveled on your own? What did it teach you about yourself?
I'm of a generation where traveling was a really big deal. I was about 14, and it was probably a school trip to France. Back then, even going to France felt like a major adventure. I remember everyone speaking a different language and experiencing a completely new culture. That experience really influenced me and opened my eyes to different ways of living and thinking.
What was the last hotel that wowed you, and why?
One [hotel that] I went to recently was the [Green Park] Penthouse suite at 1 Hotel Mayfair. It was a beautiful space, a two-bedroom suite with a fireplace and kitchen. It was absolutely beautiful.
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Where's the last place you traveled to where you felt completely at home?
I go to the Oscars every year, and I attended Jay-Z's Gold Party, which I've been to a few times. This year was really special. Michael B Jordan and Ryan Coogler just won their Oscars, so the vibe was amazing. There was a DJ booth, people were celebrating together, and it was just a very enthusiastic, fun atmosphere with beautiful energy.
That's a recent experience that really stands out. It felt comfortable because the energy was so good. My creativity is very much based on feelings and energy, and when that energy is there, it naturally inspires me.
If you had to plan one last journey, what would you eat, where would you stay, and what experience would you want to try?
That's a very hard question. I think if you're spiritual, which I am, I'm not sure you would even approach it in that context. I would approach it more from a spiritual perspective. If I believed it was my last journey, I'd focus on staying present in the moment.
