Good Life - Waraire Boswell

**This foreword was originally written in the thick of the COVID pandemic, while the interview occurred in 2019 for Volume 3 of Good Life.**

"...combat all that ignorance by being responsible in your lane. My lane is fashion and I’m good at it; I feel like I can talk to anyone from a clansman to a gang member." - Waraire Boswell

The thing I miss the most about seeing Waraire is his hug. It's a deep, spine-cracking, body-tingling squeeze that says "I love you" louder than any words can convey. If you know Bos, you know that he is an imposing presence, towering at 6'7", impeccably dressed, beard & hair lined-up to perfection. But what makes him unforgettable is not his look, but genuine warmth and an unflappable sense of purpose that he conveys in every encounter.

At the beginning of the pandemic, a friend told me that he felt like COVID has taken away all the small things we took for granted. Whenever I think of that comment, the first place my mind goes is the last time I shared a meal with Bos and Christina, and receiving one of his patented embraces.

I have so much respect for Waraire, the product he creates, and the things he has accomplished. From the incredible custom tailoring for countless celebrities, GQ covers and more, this man has accomplished so much--all with a subtle sense of grace and an enormous amount of heart. We're so pleased to continue the Good Life conversation with him - Waraire took the time to discuss inspirations, social responsibility as a black artist, and how he thinks culture should influence your work.

 - Caleb

 Photo by Glen Han @glenjamn

Kaybee: How much cash do you have in your pocket right now?

(laughs) Oh, I have my credit card in my pocket - I have my American Express, I have my ATM, so do I need to like...?

Please don’t.

It’s good. (laughs)

How important was that when you were seventeen versus how important it is to you now?

Oh man. It’s more important to me now because I understand ... like I think everybody’s money is hard earned for the most part on the level on which we exist in. There are certain people who never have to worry about money at all. That’s amazing to me. Like, you literally survive your whole existence and now you’re an adult, you got married, mom and dad came with that money for the down payment on the crib, or they actually owned a crib that they just bequeathed to you. You don’t have to worry about bread at all, that’s amazing. So, since I know how hard I work for my money, I wouldn’t have that appreciation at seventeen because I didn’t have life experiences.

Do you feel artists and people with a social platform have a certain kind of responsibility?

Absolutely. I saw a documentary about Jack Johnson where he said he felt like he was carrying the weight for all of Black America. The same goes for Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in Washington, D.C., the first Black Congressman. Even though he represented Harlem, he received letters from all over the country because people were inspired by what he was doing.

I say all that and I give you those examples to say that you still have to be socially responsible. You just have to be, because there are places in America where black people are not. There are people who won’t get to meet a black person who is educated, intelligent, and carries himself or herself in a certain manner with certain esteem. And if all they’re seeing is “turnt up” music and ratchet on TV-- that’s what they think speaks for the entirety of Black America. If this person, white person, or any person, has just been fed a steady stream of this, it’s going to be difficult for us to break through that.

I say you combat all that ignorance by being responsible in your lane. My lane is fashion and I’m good at it; I feel like I can talk to anyone from a clansman to a gang member. You have to be responsible.

If you could talk to yourself at the age of seventeen, what would you tell yourself?

I would have definitely said ‘get out of your own way.’ I would travel to Japan. I would travel to Amsterdam. I would go to Mexico City. I would go to Paris. I traveled when I was younger and single, but not with my collection—I traveled for leisure.

If I had a chance to talk to myself, I would have said, “If you’re going to these places, make sure you’re going with a plan. Don’t just go.” But the valuable thing is now I get to talk to my best friend about this and we can share this with our youngsters.

By and large, Black people for the most part in the United States don’t really have a template for success. We just have to be very, very resourceful in all facets of life.

My level of resourcefulness increased when I got married and had children. I was forced to be resourceful to figure out how am I going to provide for this family and grow my business to unprecedented heights.

How much of what you feel like in terms of your culture are in there. Do you feel like it’s important to kind of come through in what you do? Or do you separate that?

What I’m very conscious of is value proposition. I’m always thinking because there are brands with millions and millions of dollars behind them. So, if I am making something, I’m thinking what is it about my brand that is so special that’s gonna make somebody come to me versus going somewhere else? My value proposition is: attention to detail and powerful use of colors. I frequently draw upon my African roots and interject culture in all things I do.

It’s been an interesting role for me. Because I can remember going to see editors at GQ, Details Magazine, there were a couple of the magazines that were like, “Oh!” (motions to himself). This is before like Instagram and all that where they had no idea I was black. Like zero. So, when I rolled in they were like, okay.

Do you have a song that meant a lot to you when you were growing up that you sometimes revisit now?

Something Atlantic Star, Stylistics, Mtume, Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway. Something Marvin Gaye, my father owned and ran the record shop in Pasadena, CA called so all he did was play music...all day! I have a great infinity for music and rhythm. A year and a half ago I put out a record called Two Sons. If you go to my Instagram, the link is there. I may release something else if the sprit calls me to do so. I do it for fun.

So what’s your question for the next person?

WB: “What will you do to maintain your happiness and the happiness of others around you?”