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When Savile Row meets the bedroom: Ozwald Boateng and Savoir's remarkable collaboration
One of Britain's most famous tailors has turned his attention to the art of sleeping, joining forces with historic bedmaker Savoir to create a striking new expression of British craftsmanship.
- Words by: Gentleman's Journal
For decades, Ozwald Boateng has been challenging the conventions of Savile Row, bringing colour, personality and a distinctly modern sensibility to one of London's most traditional industries. Now, in a rather unexpected move, he has turned his attention from what we wear to where we sleep.
The result is Authenticity, a remarkable collaboration with Savoir, the British bedmaker whose history stretches back more than 120 years. And while the idea of a Savile Row tailor designing a bed might initially raise an eyebrow, the more you consider it, the more sense it makes.
Ozwald Boateng brings his British-Ghanaian heritage and Savile Row sensibility to Savoir.
For those unfamiliar with Savoir, the company has one of the more fascinating histories in British luxury. Its origins date back to 1905, when the original beds were created for London's legendary Savoy hotel. At a time when the hotel was setting new standards for hospitality, its beds became almost as famous as the guests sleeping in them. Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe and Giacomo Puccini were among those who experienced their extraordinary comfort.
Today, Savoir continues to make its beds entirely by hand in Britain, using traditional techniques and natural materials that include horsetail hair, wool and cashmere. Each bed is entrusted to a single craftsperson, who signs their work upon completion. It's a rather wonderful detail, and one that speaks volumes about the company's approach to luxury.
It was precisely this commitment to craftsmanship that attracted Boateng to the brand. Having visited Savoir's London Bedworks and witnessed the process firsthand, the designer began exploring how his own approach to tailoring might translate into an entirely different discipline.
The woven-leather headboard draws on the geometry of traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth.
Green cotton satin on the reverse references the colourful linings of Boateng’s tailoring.
The patterned woven-leather headboard frames the Authenticity bed.
"I approached this the way I approach a collection. The bed had to have its own architecture, its own point of view," explains Boateng. And architecture is certainly the right word. The Authenticity bed is a striking piece of furniture, with a sculptural headboard framed in solid oak and upholstered in a bespoke woven leather developed with Alma. Its geometric design draws inspiration from traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth, a textile that has long featured in Boateng's work and reflects his British-Ghanaian heritage.
Look a little closer, however, and it's the smaller details that make this collaboration particularly special. The base is upholstered in embossed full-grain leather, while black-stained oak provides a beautiful contrast to the patterned headboard. On the reverse, an unexpected flash of green cotton satin references the colourful linings often found inside a beautifully tailored suit. It's a detail we particularly love. Something that might never be seen by anyone other than its owner.
The sculptural oak-framed headboard sits above Savoir’s No. 2 mattress and box spring system.
Beneath its rather impressive exterior sits Savoir's celebrated No. 2 mattress and box spring system, complemented by a horsetail and wool topper. Each bed is made to order, with more than 200 hours of craftsmanship required to complete the design. Customers can also personalise the size and materials, with a lead time of approximately 16 to 18 weeks.
The result is a celebration of two great British traditions, and a reminder that exceptional craftsmanship needn't be confined to the wardrobe.
The Authenticity bed is available to order through Savoir, with pricing upon request.
