Danayi Madondo, the visionary creative designer behind Haus of Stone, proudly showcased her latest collection, ‘Tsumo,’ at this year’s ‘CANEX Presents Africa’, a notable event held from 9th to 15th November in Cairo, Egypt, by Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) in conjunction with the 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023)
Selected and powered by the British Council’s cutting-edge fashion programme, Creative DNA, which aims to facilitate market access, network expansion, and business growth for emerging designers, Danayi Madondo was among the 24 talented designers selected from Egypt and various African countries to participate in CANEX.
Hailing from Zimbabwe, Danayi Madondo’s inclusion in this distinguished event, supported by the British Council, has provided her with a unique platform to present her avant-garde creations to a diverse audience.
CANEX, recognised as Africa’s largest gathering of creative minds that provides a unique platform for facilitating business, investment, collaboration, partnerships and inspiration amongst creatives across the value chain of diverse creative and cultural industry sectors, has afforded her brand unprecedented exposure, capturing the attention of international buyers such as Tranoï and securing orders from discerning buyers in Europe and Australia.
Commencing in January 2024, Danayi Madondo’s collections will be available at AriseRise, an upscale fashion retail concept store located in Sandton. This collaboration brokered at CANEX was made possible through the discerning eye of renowned fashion designer and entrepreneur Thula Sindi, further establishing Haus of Stone as a coveted brand in high-end fashion.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the fashion industry, Danayi Madondo has received a coveted invitation to participate in the Dakar Biennale in Senegal, a testament to her artistic prowess and global appeal.
Haus of Stone continues to redefine the boundaries of contemporary fashion, blending cultural influences with avant-garde design, and with Danayi Madondo at the helm, the brand is set to make an indelible mark on the global fashion landscape.
“This British Council programme has been invaluable, granting me access, exposure, and information beyond what I could find within my own country. It opened doors to spaces and individuals ordinarily inaccessible to me, exposed my product to a receptive market with disposable income and an appreciation for fashion design, and provided industry insights unattainable through theoretical study.
The practical experiences and meaningful conversations ignited a personal transformation, revealing my business strengths and weaknesses, and illuminating areas for improvement. This experience stands among the most impactful career development programmes I have ever participated in.” says Danayi.
Commenting on the impact of the Creative DNA programme that supports fashion designers and entrepreneurs, Farai Ncube, the Regional Arts Director at the British Council stated “Africa’s fashion and design industry is rapidly growing, playing a key role in global trends.
Despite this, there are challenges like education, investment, infrastructure, limited IP protection, and difficulties in accessing materials and markets. To tackle these issues, Creative DNA was launched in 2019, focusing on value creation through research, manufacturing, business skills, legal structures, and more.”
About Haus of Stone
Haus of Stone is a cutting-edge fashion label founded by Danayi Madondo, renowned for its fusion of cultural aesthetics with modern design sensibilities. With a commitment to innovation and craftsmanship, Haus of Stone stands as a beacon of creativity in the fashion industry.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries.
www.britishcouncil.org
