3 minute read
Fashion Fierce
Welcome to the House of Cyndie
Cynthia Likando, or Cyndie as she’s affectionately known, is one of those fashion designers who you’ll always notice in a crowd. Her striking beauty and style put her in a league of her own among the designers who can dress you beautifully but are equally capable of stealing the show with their ability to style themselves to perfection.
She describes her personal style as “fearless and flexible”, and that is exactly what it is. Her love for diversity and expression in fashion helps her create garments for different personalities and for any occasion.
Breaking onto the fashion scene with her student collection in 2013, Cynthia never imagined that her brand would make it to where it is today. House of Cyndie has grown tremendously over the years and her collections are proof of that.
“Not that I doubted myself, but the fashion industry is not an easy industry to crack through and leave your mark,” she says with a touch of humility.
Fierce … Cynthia Likando has had an incredible journey with her brand House of Cyndie and she has dreams of taking it to even greater heights.
While she is proud of her achievements so far, it comes as a surprise that Cynthia nevertheless considers herself an emerging fashion designer who is “still learning and still has a long way ahead.”
She has been part of Windhoek Fashion Week over the years and has worked with big music stars like Lioness, Lady May and DJ Siya. Her career highlights also include showcasing her work alongside African fashion design heavyweights like David Thlale and House of Saint Luke from South Africa, as well as Namibian brands like House of Poulton and Honey Cassie Designs.
And while she has worked with many famous personalities, Cyndie’s favourite clients are those who are open-minded like her, clients who are not afraid to break some rules. “Jay-Aeron is among my favourite clients because he always poses an exciting challenge to work with. He adds the EXTRA to Extravagant, always ready to stand out and never afraid to try something new and step outside the box,” she says.
Clearly a beloved muse, Jay-Aeron, who is a celebrated makeup artist and trendsetter, is one of the biggest supporters of the House of Cyndie brand. As Cyndie puts it, “his appreciation for me spending long hours on his garments is always so motivating. It feels great to be appreciated for your work by your clients.” While she has already worked with some of the biggest celebs in the country, she has her eyes on Nangula Nanyemba as a future client.
“She has this captivating sense of style that I am drawn to. Her ability to switch from an elegant, sophisticated look to a laid-back yet chic look within a matter of minutes is something I admire about her. To be unpredictable with your style is what I find intriguing.”
Cyndie loves making people look beautiful through design and wants to teach the skill to others as well. House of Cyndie Fashions officially added another segment to its service range in February by introducing Masterclasses in Fashion Design for beginners. The vision, Cyndie says, is to continue this project and eventually transform House of Cyndie Fashions into the first private fashion school in Namibia.
“Currently the masterclasses are on hold due to the safety measures we have to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic. As much as the pandemic has been devastating for small businesses, it has also given us the opportunity to look into alternative ways to continue providing our services,” says Cyndie and adds that plans are underway to implement an online learning system to continue the lessons.
With the way in which the passionate designer has developed her business and personal brand over the years, there is no doubt that her dream will come true. With her help, young designers will be following in her footsteps some years from now.
For more information about the House of Cyndie Masterclasses, or to book a consultation, follow @houseofcyndiefashions on Instagram and @houseofcyndie on Facebook.
Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant, and fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni.
