Behind the Seams

My name is Andile (Ayi) Makaula. I’m a designer, a maker, and someone in the process of rebuilding a life and a career at the same time.

I am the founder of House of Ayi, a fashion and jewellery brand rooted in craftsmanship, identity, and self-expression. What started as handmade brass jewellery has grown into a wider design practice that includes custom garments and evolving creative work.

This blog is a record of that process; both personal and professional. It’s where I share what it actually looks like to build something from the ground up, to navigate uncertainty, and to keep creating through it all.