In remembering the late menswear designer Waraire Boswell—affectionately known as “Boz” to his friends and family—it is often said that “he gave the best hugs” and made everyone feel loved. Running parallel to the warmth he showed others was his desire—and eventual destiny—to be embraced by the fashion industry and influence it through his work. Though that dream would come to fruition, Boswell died on July 31, 2024 at 48, amid a flourishing career.
Before the 2025 Met Gala, set to celebrate the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s upcoming Costume Institute exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, ” Vogue spoke to Boswell’s friends and family. Relatives, fellow designers, and more shared their fondest memories of him and recalled his bespoke creations—creations that would have undoubtedly graced this year’s Met Gala red carpet if Boswell were here.
“This year’s Met Gala would have been so perfect for Boz because it really reflects the essence of who he was,” says Monica Boswell, the late designer’s wife. “He made me love fashion.” A senior vice president at The SpringHill Company—an entertainment development and production company founded by honorary 2025 Met Gala chair LeBron James—Monica speaks to Vogue via Zoom from the family home she shared with her husband. “We met in 2009 at an event in Los Angeles that I did not want to go to,” the Illinois native explains. “We instantly connected, conversed, and eventually danced with each other. He was 6’7” but he danced like he was 5’9”, and I’m 5’3!”
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Their first date was at the Rose Bowl Flea Market—an activity that became a staple throughout their marriage. “I remember it was his haven for discovery; searching for buttons, fabrics, and patches that he’d collect and use for his designs,” Monica says, adding that it was Boswell’s towering height that inspired him to pursue design. Due to the lack of ready-made clothing options available for him, Boswell set out to create stylish pieces for himself and other men who found it hard to shop off-the-rack. He launched his eponymous label in 2003 with a range of sweaters (the first design being made for then Los Angeles Lakers John Salley) and eventually delved into custom tailoring, designing for the likes of Aldis Hodge, Anderson .Paak, Jerry Lorenzo, and many others.
“I’d known him for most of my time in L.A., which is about 20 years,” says Lorenzo when Vogue reached him by phone, adding that the two once lived across the street from each other. “Working with Boswell was probably my first real hands-on experience in fashion design—picking fabrications and discussing silhouettes and shapes for my suits that he made for me.” When Lorenzo s father, Jerry Manuel, was manager of the New York Mets from 2008–2010 and in need of custom suiting, he turned to Boswell too.
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The Fear of God founder recalls far more than Boswell’s design talent, though. “I remember his hugs, his laughs, and our smiles together,” he says. “He was elegant and the cleanest 6’7” dude you would ever meet. He inspired me to be a great example for my kids and our community, and he’s one of the unsung heroes for so many people. It was tough for me to speak at his funeral.”
After designing for some of the world’s most stylish men and women, Boswell went on to collaborate with major fashion brands and leading companies including the NBA, McDonald’s, American Express, Mitchell Ness, and Nike. But even with his laundry list of accolades and achievements, “Boswell always felt a thrust to do more,” says frequent collaborator, Joshua Kissi.
Kissi—a photographer, filmmaker, and family friend who joined Monica for this interview—befriended Boswell in 2013 at a trade show in Las Vegas. The two shared similar interests in art, design, and entrepreneurship, and often collaborated on projects that helped buffer Boswell’s creative vision.
“Working in fashion is not easy, but what Boz was able to do well was to reinvent himself with a certain level of class,” Kissi says. “Whether it was designing a new suit, or having a new haircut, he constantly engaged with information and education, and was super passionate about the importance of Black ownership.”
Actor and producer Aldis Hodge shared similar sentiments over email. “We were good friends. We worked on a few cool projects together, including my character’s bespoke look in the film Black Adam.”
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When Hodge first met Boswell at the 2016 GQ Men of the Year, he was already a fan of his tailoring. “When I saw him, I immediately wanted to meet him because I knew his work and thought it was superb,” Hodge shares. “He was a true artist, and with me being a conceptual designer, I felt like we spoke the same language. He was meticulous about the details–which is why he knew how a suit should be cut—and he shared that vision with the world, through his product.”
When it came time for Boswell to grow his brand, with the aim of competing on a global scale, he called his friend Nathaniel Palmer. “I first met Boz during the pandemic, in mid-2020, after I moved from New York to Los Angeles,” Palmer says over Zoom. “We were introduced by one of our mutual friends and industry veteran, Antoine Phillips. I eventually became Boz’s chief branding officer.” Palmer, who is now back in New York and working as an executive assistant to the CEO of Bottega Veneta soon noticed that “Boswell was often too generous,” gifting his merchandise to clients and those unable to afford significant tailoring fees. “My job was to figure out a new strategy; one that would merge his fine tailoring skills with accessibility.” If asked to describe his former boss in a word, “it would be love,” Palmer says. “Everything that he did—from designing to marketing to working with clients and brands—was full of love. Even if we were just going to grab lunch to talk about a new business plan, he would hug and hold me as if it was the last time he was going to see me. He did everything out of love.”
A native of L.A.’s Altadena suburb, Boswell was shaped by his mother’s strength and his father’s work ethic. His unique first name (Waraire is both a portmanteau of “war” and “air,” and a homophone of the late jazz pioneer Roy Ayers’s name), early passion for fashion, and values instilled in him by his parents made his sterling career all but inevitable. Boswell, along with Monica and their two sons, Mason Ellington Boswell (13) and Miles Toussaint Boswell (10), settled in L.A.’s West Adams–Ladera Heights neighborhood, and created a family home full of love. In sharing fond memories of their dad, Miles exclaims, “He would run and slide down the hallway, and I would ask him, ‘What are you doing?!’” According to Mason, “he was just being daddy, and that would make me laugh!”
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Outside of design, Boswell was a mentor with former President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and a youth basketball coach. “From getting the boys ready for school in the morning to teaching them about the history of this world, business, relationships, and even how to respect and treat women, he was an active and present father,” Monica says. “He laid a strong foundation for his sons to build on.” On the weekends, Boswell, Miles, and Mason could often be found cleaning up litter in their neighborhood. “He was an activist and a brother,” Kissi says. “Eighty percent of our conversations centered on the lessons of Black men and how we show up for our wives, families, communities, and businesses.” And as Boswell built his own brand, he was a resource and inspiration for others looking to do the same. “If it wasn’t for me having the ability to watch Boz, as a Black man, have an opinion on fashion—and to further see him build a career in it—I don’t know if I’d be where I am today,” says Lorenzo. His presence was “overwhelming,” Monica adds. “He enwrapped you, and he filled up every space that he stepped foot in.”
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As the Met Gala approaches, we can only imagine the extraordinary designs Boswell would have dreamt up for the red carpet. (Picture James, ascending the grand Met steps, donning a souped-up version of the crimson and black shawl-collar tuxedo Boswell created for the NBA star’s 2013 ESPY Award honor.)
“It was always on our bucket list to be at the Met,” Monica says. “When I saw the theme for this year, I felt like it was him showing up and claiming his moment in fashion. Even though he’s no longer here, I know he’ll be there—at the Met—in spirit.”
In addition to Monica, Miles, and Mason, Waraire Boswell is survived by his mother, Ann Boswell; sister, Kasmin Boswell; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. The Boswell Family is grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and condolences they ve received, and would like to maintain privacy at this time by not discussing the cause of Boswell’s death.