Empowerment, inclusion and cultural pride are all welcome in the House of Xandria

Fashion can do more than make a statement. It can change who gets to be seen. Founded by Malawian designer Xandria Kawanga when she was just 18, House of Xandria has grown from a small homegrown label into a luxury fashion brand dressing celebrities such as Tiwa Savage, Khanyi Mbau and Gwamba. But Kawanga’s ambitions go beyond the runway. Through All Shades of Beautiful, she created Malawi’s first inclusive fashion show, giving designers and models with disabilities a platform to showcase their work. From sustainable fashion to exploring the use of banana fibre in fabric production, Kawanga is finding new ways to bring cultural pride and social change into her business. As one of 15 entrepreneurs selected for Création Africa, she is looking to grow House of Xandria while making the fashion industry more inclusive. This is the thirteenth profile in our series on the 15 Création Africa entrepreneurs. Follow the series. Graphic: Kevin Momberg. #CreationAfrica

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