FABRIC & COLOUR
Fabric has long played a powerful role in history, spanning the globe as it weaves its fibres across all continents. Weaved by wise hands and philosophers, with the use of intricate techniques that adorned royalty, protected warriors before they entered battle and clothed those in the moment that transcended them from this realm into the next. Fabric across history and cultures has played a poignant part within various ancestral frameworks, all placing individual meaning and importance on every aspect. From how it is weaved, the hands blessed to weave it, the colours used to cultivate the design and the messages embedded within the fabric, design and pattern that bless the wearer with powerful proverbs, healing powers or spiritual release.
Fabric is one of the most important components of an Ozwald Boateng garment. Paying homage to his Ashanti ancestry, each colour, weave pattern and design is intricately considered to tell a powerful spiritual story. Every colour holds a spiritual significance, supporting in acting as a cloak of armour for the wearer. These bespoke patterns and intricate designs are the heartbeat of the brand.
Working directly with our mills we choose the fibre, create the weave, and the colour to produce bespoke cloth exclusive to Ozwald Boateng. A unique approach to fabrication, rich in texture, colour and substance, which becomes a second skin. These elements enhance the experience and create an emotional connection between the clothes and the wearer.
Colour has a lot of meaning; it is spiritual and can induce powerful emotions. When appropriately combined, it evokes confidence, style and individuality.
Colour has long had a spiritual connection with varying tribes, understanding the importance of weaving certain colours together or placing more importance on specific colours dependent on the wearer's purpose or intention. Spiritual colours have the power to evoke a deeper sense of self, provide a profound sense of grounding and clarity, only through the cloth.
“Colour has a lot of meaning; it is spiritual and can induce powerful emotions. When appropriately combined, it evokes confidence, style and individuality”.
KENTE - THE CLOTH OF KINGS
Legend has it that long ago, in the Ashanti village of Bonwire, Ghana, two brothers went out hunting and stumbled upon a spider weaving a web, unlike anything they had seen before. The spider agreed to teach the brothers how to weave such intricate patterns using a single piece of thread, and so Kente was born. Ozwald Boateng's signature Kente pattern is a modern interpretation of traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth. Once only reserved for royalty, Kente is the pinnacle of luxury, carrying a deep cultural significance passed down through generations of the Ashanti people.
The Ozwald Boateng signature purple wasn't chosen at a whim. For the Ashanti people, purple signifies Mother Earth, healing, protection from evil, while our frequently used hues of green embody growth, harvest, renewal. Each pattern, print and weave are carefully crafted, spiritually inspired and grounded in a powerful and potent history.
TRIBAL
A reinterpretation of traditional African cloth highlighting the continent’s continued progress towards autonomy. Africa’s distinct heritage of craftsmanship at its heart. Ozwald Boateng’s tribal pattern answers the global demand and love for its ancestral prints. The creation of which signals a renewed ideal of Africa at home and abroad. With this comes the creation of a new celebratory global movement: AFRICANISM.
GRAPHIC CHECK
The Prince of Wales check fabric has been a staple fabric in British tailoring since the 19th century. Ozwald Boateng’s Graphic Check is a modern reinterpretation of this iconic pattern. It is constructed with multiple horizontal and vertical lines creating a striking and deconstructed check pattern.
