Southern California-born Waraire Boswell wants you to feel like you’re receiving a million dollar check when you wear clothes from his eponymous brand. Famously known for constructing ready-to-wear and custom attire for some of the world’s most renowned businessmen, star athletes, and music icons. Boswell’s Hollywood talent agency background and his personal swagger with attention to detail has afforded him the fortuity to build a who’s who of client rolodexes and he continues to build his brand and stay ahead of the game during the COVID 19 pandemic. Standing 6’7 tall with impeccable taste and gratitude for the ability to do exactly what he loves, Waraire Boswell will not stop until he has both hands interlocked behind his head and his feet up, admiring his family and can say: “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Note: he’s just getting started.

If someone asked you: “Who is Waraire Boswell?,” how would you respond?

Waraire Boswell is a parent, a husband, and he’s someone who has a belief in something higher and bigger than himself. Waraire Boswell is a designer of custom and ready to wear goods for a discerning and coveted clientele.

Jay Z, Meek Mill, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Colin Kaepernick, Dwayne Wade, Nas, Diddy, and countless others have all sported your unique, bespoke designs. You’ve established yourself in the sports and entertainment market of clientele. Was that by design or was it organic?

It was purely organic. My initial clientele consisted of agents and managers who were predominately white. They in turn, referred me to their clientele. This was due in part to the fact I started my career in entertainment with United Talent and William Morris agencies. After I started to grow the business and the infrastructure, I would go out, attend social events such as screenings, premieres, or social get togethers. And if you’re there and you look great, you’re recognized. Other men that are your height, that desire the same type of feeling, take notice and there is commonality. I am observed and acknowledged for the way I carry myself and my swag. From there the engagement starts and leads to: “What do you do?” and once they learn it was clothing, it naturally morphed into “I would love for you to design for me.” And that’s how it started to grow. The connection with Jay Z started at a holiday party hosted by Jessie Williams. I was in the buffet line serving myself and he tapped me on the back and said: “Brother, that jacket you have on is masterful, I need you to run that to me immediately.” It was such a blessing because you see these guys who have created some of the best versus you’ve ever heard in your life, and you see them in front of crowds performing songs that you know verbatim and they’re actually coveting something you made from your mind and they want it! That’s brilliant!

What is the most important Waraire Boswell piece a man should invest in and why?

I would say, prior to COVID, every man should own one to three great fitting suits. You never know what event will arise. In the COVID environment I would say the best assets to own would be Waraire Ready-to-Wear leisure pieces. I still maintain my clientele through these unprecedented times, but by and large I’m wearing very casual pieces, athleisure pieces that are easy to wear and allow me to transition and go into any environment with relative ease.

How do you balance your personal life as a husband and father yet still maintain your career as a designer?

First, by understanding my bandwidth. Second, through meditation and utilization of my time. Being still and asking the Universe: What are my next steps? During this pandemic, in that stillness, I found the answers. My lifestyle requires a certain level of focus and devoted discipline as a husband and a father. My confidence in my ability to stop, repurpose the company and move towards making and providing PPE for companies in addition to continuing my core business, has allowed me to fair extremely well through the pandemic, because of the size of my business.

You joined with Lexus to introduce a very dope collection inspired by their Lexus RC F coupe in 2014. How were chosen for that opportunity?

It was a situation where The Walton Isaacson Agency was tasked to work with new and established talent, and at the time, had a laundry list of prospects they desired –and magically I was one of those people. They called and asked if the opportunity is something, I’d be interested in doing. Naturally to be aligned with companies you believe in that have a great profile, is something I’m always striving for. Whether its Lexus, BMW, GQ, or the CFDA…finding companies that you align with is always a good move. 

McDonald’s was a golden opportunity, many people are not aware that you designed uniforms for them. Was that another situation where you were sought after?

It was a third party that worked with McDonald’s that communicated they were looking to amplify their uniforms and change it up and would I be interested? These opportunities came merely through the universe and not my agency – they didn’t arrive in a customary way. The alignment with McDonald’s was awesome because they’re a blue company and employ millions across the globe. It just made natural sense. When I shared the McDonald’s opportunity, a lot of people didn’t think that it was sexy, but being sound and astute, I realized the opportunity was very sexy.

What era of men’s style intrigued you the most?

There are several eras for different reasons. First, the mid-1990s. I was coming into young adulthood and I loved the colors and sportswear of that time. Bo Jackson, Andre Agassi, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Charles Barkley, Deon Sanders… inspired me. Nike during that time put out some excellent product. It had meaning, it was very colorful, and a ton of great athletes from that time were African American. The looked like me and spoke to me in the entrepreneurial sense. My parents are entrepreneurs, and they would grab my mentality and say: even though you see them from a sports point of view- understand these are businessmen. Secondly, the late 1970s and 1980s in terms of suiting for silhouette. Lastly, Kanye was good for athleisure as there was no athleisure in the early 2000s –that’s more of a phenomenon that’s going on right now.

What is missing in menswear that you would love to design right now?

I’m in proprietary mode right now, so it’s something I’m currently working on. Sustainability and responsibility are very important to me and my brand, as well as health and environmental concerns coupled with the planet’s role in our consumption. Most people are unaware of the back story on making a pair of sweats, a hoodie, or what it takes to make a buttoned-up shirt or a suit. What is the mark on the environment? And is there a better way to do this? How is it? Through technique? Your workforce? The fabrications you use? How you’re assembling it? The actual workspace of the team you employ- is it a pleasant, nurturing space? All these things are very important to me.

Was there a career setback that you faced, which you later realized was an advantage?

Yes. The advantage was me growing from 5’8 to to 6’3 ½ over a summer to continuously growing and popping out at 6’7 ½ at 28/29 years old…. that was looked at as an “L” because once I reached that height people were like: “Wow you’re tall, do you play basketball?” Being this height, there was nothing in the market tailored for me. Most people don’t design for guys who are 6’7. Designs are on a scale of XS, S, M, L, XL and 2X. When you get to those Large to 2XL pieces, they are not slimming. The clothing gets bigger and doesn’t hang on a tall frame accordingly. I began to design for myself and gain exposure to other circles of people. For instance, dressing Colin [Kaepernick] – if I didn’t have my own brand, I would have never had the opportunity to dress him.

Do you feel you have made it, and reached the apex in your career?

No. I feel I am uneasily comfortable. If you ever get comfortable, you’ve got a real problem.

In your opinion what deficiency should the fashion industry remedy to help Black designers acquire success?

Just be fair! When you go to a set there should be diversity there, and I’m not talking about craft services or the security guard. They should know that. Most want a Black experience without Black people being a part of it. Be fair.

What is the Waraire Boswell philosophy?

My philosophy is mind, body, spirit and health aligned.

www.waraireboswell.com

IG: @waraireboswell