House of Xandria, Enactim for fashion training

House of Xandria in conjunction with Entrepreneurs in Action Malawi (Enactim) is set to offer business and fashion training to fashion designers with disabilities and others so that they turn their art into a thriving business.

In an interview, House of Xandria chief executive officer Xandria said they are recruiting persons with disabilities for the incubation programme.

“We will host the business incubation programme to teach fashion designers with disabilities. We will discuss several aspects of the fashion industry and how they can use their designing abilities to make a living,” she said.

Xandria said they have this year, through Enactim, received a grant of K8 177 500 from Copyright Society of Malawi which will be used during the business incubation programme.

“We will bring together all the designers at one place in Lilongwe. We have already identified coaches, including Lilly Alfonso. At the end of the day, they will be designers who will turn their art into a living,” she said.

Xandria disclosed that they have also incorporated the element of mental health.

“This business is cut-throat. We will have experts in mental health who will talk to our designers about mental health and how to handle themselves in stressful situations,” she said.

Xandria said the designers will showcase their designs during this year’s All Shades of Beautiful Fashion Show at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

Titchene Fashion Designs, owned by three deaf women Wyness Chirwa, Happiness Kalumbi and Faith Banda, told The Nation that they look forward to more opportunities through All Shades of Beautiful.

The three, who are set to take part in this year’s fashion show and incubation programme, recently modelled their designs on the runway during a mini All Shades of Beautiful Fashion Show.

“As Titchene, we are extremely positive about sustainable and inclusive fashion. We are climbing in the fashion industry, always determined and focused,” they wrote on their official Facebook page.