{
  "id": 16915800,
  "title": "CRÉATION AFRICA: Empowerment, inclusion and cultural pride are all welcome in the House of Xandria",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/creation-africa-empowerment-inclusion-and-cultural-pride-are-all",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-28T15:20:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-28-empowerment-inclusion-and-cultural-pride-are-all-welcome-in-the-house-of-xandria/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The House of Xandria, founded by Malawian designer Xandria Kawanga in 2015, is a luxury fashion brand that emphasizes empowerment, inclusion, and cultural pride. Initially, Kawanga started with a handmade black dress, which garnered attention and generated orders. Today, the brand has evolved into an internationally recognized force, blending high-end couture with sustainable social advocacy. The House of Xandria has created bespoke garments for celebrities like Tiwa Savage, Khanyi Mbau, and Gwamba. In 2020, the brand went viral with an eco-friendly dress made from recycled newspapers, promoting environmental sustainability.\n\nIn 2021, House of Xandria held the first inclusive runway, All Shades of Beautiful, showcasing models and designers with physical disabilities, earning widespread acclaim. Kawanga recognized the need for adaptive fashion in the industry, where designers and models with disabilities often faced exclusion and discrimination in Malawi. Despite facing biases and challenges such as a lack of local fabric manufacturing factories, Kawanga has expanded the brand into tailored menswear and interior design. The brand employs 15 people and operates a showroom in Lilongwe. In 2026, House of Xandria was selected as one of 15 finalists in Création Africa, a development program supporting emerging cultural and creative entrepreneurs in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi.",
  "summary": "Founded by Malawian designer Xandria Kawanga, the House of Xandria is a socially conscious luxury fashion brand that makes high-end bespoke and ready-to-wear garments.",
  "key_points": [
    "House of Xandria founded by Malawian designer Xandria Kawanga in 2015",
    "Brand emphasizes empowerment, inclusion, and cultural pride",
    "Selected as one of 15 finalists in Création Africa in 2026"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}