For Londeka Buthelezi-Ndaba, fashion is never merely fabric. It’s memory, identity, and above all, a bridge between yesterday and tomorrow. Since founding Malondié (sometimes spelled with the accent: Malondie / Malondié) in around 2015, she has transformed what began in small beginnings into a luxurious womenswear label that champions inclusion, culture, and bold expression. 
Roots & Rise: Small Beginnings, Grand Visions
Every creative journey has a spark. For Londeka, it was selling shoes and sourcing clothes in 2015.  Gradually, that spark grew into designing and sewing her own pieces—an evolution she nurtured, in part, through studies at Vega School. 
Crucially, inclusivity was baked in from early on. Malondié was not meant to be for a single body type or age—it was to dress “all women and bodies of all shapes and sizes,” to quote Londeka, with sizes ranging from 0 to 50. This is both style and statement.
Designing with Purpose: Voice, Culture & Storytelling
Heritage, memory, ancestry—they’re not just inspirations, they are the warp and weft of Malondié’s identity.
• The recent SS25 collection, titled “We Are Fruits of Where We Come From,” is rooted in Zulu tradition—especially in the iconic isigege, the Zulu maiden skirt. Tassels, threads, fabrics that recall past rituals and celebrations made their way into modern silhouettes. 
• One collection was a deeply personal tribute to her late mother: Londeka worked through her mother’s wardrobe, lifting elements, colours, memories, and reimagining them in gowns and everyday wear. “Give her flowers while she can still smell them,” she said of that collection—showing how fashion can be a vessel for love and remembrance. 
Textures and materials matter too: satin, chiffon, organdie—the luxury of touch and drape—and woven, structured fabrics that speak to strength and craftsmanship. 
Style & Signature: What Makes Malondié Stand Out
Malondié has carved a distinct niche in contemporary South African fashion. Some of its signatures:
• Dramatic silhouettes + leisure luxe: eveningwear that pauses for brunch, gowns that demand attention, resort wear that blends glamour + ease. 
• Colour drenched storytelling: bold colour-blocks, vivid prints, and motifs inspired by nature—fruits, flowers, heritage symbols. 
• Representation & empowerment: models of various sizes, even a model in a wheelchair, to honour diversity. Wearability is key: every woman who steps into a Malondié piece should feel powerful. 
Milestones & Moments
• Malondié has shown in both Cape Town Fashion Week and Joburg Fashion Week, making her presence felt on South Africa’s major fashion stages. 
• The Spring/Summer 2025 show drew wide acclaim for its 70-look showcase—originally billed as 60—rooted in Zulu heritage and performed with flair. 
• Collaborations & wider recognition: logistics of shipping internationally (Botswana, US, UK), having collections stocked in retail spaces like House of Nala in Sandton City, and partnerships like with Vaseline’s Cera-Glow range adding dimension to her seasonal launches. 
Philosophy: More Than Fashion
For Londeka, Malondié is not just about trends. It’s about values:
• Authenticity: staying true to self and heritage. 
• Sustainability in a broader sense: creating pieces that endure beyond seasons, designs that people cherish, not discard. Though not hugely publicised yet, intention shows in quality and craftsmanship. 
• Empowerment through visibility: giving voice and representation to women often unseen in high fashion narratives. 
Why Malondié Matters
• It redefines what luxury looks like in a South African context: rich in colour, heritage, storytelling—luxury that doesn’t erase tradition.
• It pushes the industry forward in inclusion, not just in size but in spirit.
• It shows that identity can be modern without being erased. Malondié’s garments are simultaneously rooted and forward-looking.
• It’s a role model for local designers who dream big but want to stay connected to their communities and culture.
Londeka’s ambitions are global: more international collaborations, participating in shows beyond South Africa, growing brand awareness, while holding fast to what makes Malondié Malondié. 
