Ozwald Boateng had the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York packed out for his first ever womenswear collection showcase. Ozwald who was the first black designer to find himself on the famous Saville Row street, has been designing suits for men for over 30 years, Ozwald featured colour and African-inspired prints and textures for his show which was a celebration of the Afrocentric culture titled “AI”, meaning “authentic identity,” ”artistic intelligence” and “ancestral identity,”
Speaking on the collection and show Ozwald said “I just want to be really inclusive when I create, We’re in an interesting place now in the world and I feel that I want to express more of my African roots in my work. It’s important to be true to who you are, to be authentic.”
Throughout his career, Ozwald has designed suits for the likes of Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Laurence Fishburne and Daniel-Day Lewis and recently designed a suit for his friend’s wedding Idris Elba who was also in attendance at the show.
