Vietnam fashion swoops off to Italy
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Countries form joint council as four designers arrive, mixing modern and traditional
Four leading Vietnamese clothing designers will show their latest collections – highlighting the country’s traditional textiles – at a fashion show in Italy on Wednesday.
Renowned designer Minh Hanh plans to demonstrate her technical skill and spirit through a collection centred on contrasting fabrics, denim and brocade.
“My strong point is using traditional materials, especially brocade, but, based on my own research, 80 per cent of people I see on Italian streets wear jeans,” Minh says. She spotted a challenge.
“Denim is seemingly impossible to put together with my fabrics, and that’s why I chose to combine the two. I want to show off my strengths and, at the same time, I want to satisfy local audiences with their favourite material.”
Lan Huong, known for her ao dai – the classical long dress – will stay loyal to expectations with silk ao dai and hand embroidery. The show in Rome will also see the debut of a new form – elegant shawls embroidered with flowered patterns.
After Quang Nhat became the first winner of the Vietnam Design Star contest last year, he travelled to Italy, South Korea and France to plan his entrance into the global fashion scene. While thinking globally, he remains true to his inspiration in a collection inspired by rural landscapes.
Nhat will show linen made by ethnic people in the mountainous province of Ha Giang, as well as handmade accessories depicting the beauty of ancient Vietnamese architecture.
Mekong Delta native Cong Khanh will portray his homeland via images of storks flying over boundless fields and sarus cranes – a vulnerable bird typical of the marshy countryside.
Each designer will display 10 to 15 outfits. Hanh says she recruited the other three because they are young just starting out. They impressed her with their willingness to learn from and integrate into the global fashion scene.
“Their collections describe them as designers who dare to experiment with new things,” Hanh says. “They’re also good at English, and that helps them exchange ideas with Italian fashion experts.
“I believe Vietnamese designers can get on well with their Italian colleagues because they have the same passion for fashion and the same dream of creating a civilised, professional fashion industry.”
Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han, Miss Sea 2010 Nguyen Thi Loan, Miss Photogenic 2002 Phuong Lien and Italian models will take turns on the Italian runway wearing the clothes from Vietnam.
The show takes place in Rome, in the Museo di Roma’s Palazzo Braschi, a Renaissance-era a castle that houses art masterpieces as well as art and fashion events.
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long will be on hand to announce the establishment of the Italy-Vietnam Fashion Council to draft a co-operation plan aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the industry in both countries.
Gattinoni chief Stephano Dominella and Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh will co-chair the council of well-known designers from the two nations.
