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LONDON - Ozwald Boateng, the celebrated British fashion designer, is to open a flagship store on London's Savile Row as he pursues plans for an aggressive expansion.
Boateng plans to open 30 new outlets over the next three years. The United States, the Middle East, Russia, India, China and Singapore have all been earmarked as locations for new boutiques. His Savile Row shop is due to open in the next few weeks.
Boateng began his career selling clothes in west London's Portobello Rd and founded his business at the age of 23. His client lists include Samuel L. Jackson, Russell Crowe, Will Smith and Keanu Reeves.
Boateng began making bespoke suits in 1990 and is credited with introducing Savile Row tailoring to a new generation.
He was appointed creative director of Givenchy menswear in 2003. During the early years of the Blair Government, he became a face of the "cool Britannia" movement. He is helping to make a documentary of his life story and a series entitled House of Boateng, charting his career, has screened in the US.
Boateng's new London store will be a welcome boost to Savile Row. Tailors on the street have been forced to cope with rent rises of 50 per cent over the past decade and have faced increased competition. But estimates show demand for bespoke English-made suits is growing by up to 10 per cent a year.
- Independent
