2013. Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire! I came, I saw, I fell in love!
A city, as modern as it could be! A city, as French as it could be! A city, as culturally rich as it could be!
Tucked away between the lagoon and the vast blue ocean, some astounding history dwelled amidst villages and small clusters of trees and forests. I had found some invaluable treasures. No, these were not antiques! These were contemporary craftsmen - upholders of ancient crafts techniques, trying to preserve traditions of their ancestors and promote what would otherwise get extinct.
I shared their passion for the art, and I compounded that with my knowledge of design and marketing and thus, was born House of Avana.
Avana, meaning "a beautiful flower," in Kiswahili, is a social enterprise, upholding traditional cultural sensibility in the age of globalization. In an ephemeral world, Avana makes you "hold on to" something warm, authentic and precious. Culture, tradition and heritage!
-Vandana Sharad
Founder, House of Avana