Source: http://mercedesbenzfashionweek.ru

One of the key events of the 25th season of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia is the show by the British designer Ozwald Boateng. He came to Moscow to present his capsule women's collection for the first time and a collection of men's suits with a Cuban inspiration. At the end of the show Ozwald Boateng revealed us some secrets of his “Afropean” success.

Ozwald Boateng is one of the most famous British specialists in men's fashion. He was named Best Designer of Men's Clothes by British Fashion Awards, and was also awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Medal for his special contribution to the fashion industry. He managed to combine his tailoring skills with an impeccable sense of color and style, resulting in luxurious clothing of the highest quality.

 Balancing between the strictness of classic Western suits and the variety of the ethnic palette and textures, Boateng traditionally pays special attention to the details of the cut. This time, Boateng invites us to discover the Cuban lifestyle. Ozwald Boateng Spring Summer’13 collection has been influenced by African, Northern and Southern American cultures and styles. The special feature is a unique combination of natural textures and shadows with the very intense colours. Boateng’s mixture of the traditional Ghanaian materials with the bagging creates his innovative approach.  
 

Ozwald Boateng SS’13 collection is a balance between the western and ethnic techniques with the constant attention to the men’s design. The presentation made at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia was really unique and special, as Ozwald Boateng showed his first capsule collection of women's clothing.

At the end of the show we were happy to ask Ozwald Boateng several questions:

- Have you managed to watch any shows by Russian designers? How can you comment on the Russian fashion industry?

I have seen the shows on the big screens, and I can say, that’s a lot potential here, and in some time we can see some big Russian brands.

- What is the key factor of your success and why your collections are so popular in Russia?

I use traditional African fabrics, and I created my own fabrics. They are of African origin, and that’s what I call “Afropean”. Even they are African, you don’t feel they are African, when you watch the show. That’s my concept.
Russia is still discovering itself. I’m very traditional, and Russia is very traditional, but it opens the boundaries to the experiments.

As part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia, the film “A Man's Story” about the life and work of Ozwald Boateng was shown, and Ozwald Boateng pop-up store at Bosco Prive (Shopping Center Vesna, 19 New Arbat Street) has been opened recently.