Vietnam International Fashion Week kicks off
The event, to be held for the first time in the capital city, will showcase the most innovative, creative and impressive collections of elite local and international fashion designers, including Nguyen Cong Tri, Phuong My, Giao Linh and Thuy Nguyen.
Giao Linh will showcase a feminine easy wear collection called Under the Moonlight, inspired by the 1970s era.
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| Vibrant: A model wears a design by Hoang Quyen, owner of Tiny Ink, during Spring/Summer International Fashion Week in April. — Photo courtesy of the organiser |
“The designs will look both sexy and on-point at the same time,” Linh said.
Dinh Van Tho will highlight a collection of áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) entitled Moc – Vietnam (Simple Vietnam). Famous beauty spots in the country, such as Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and HCM City, inspire his designs.
Hoang Quyen, the owner of Tiny Ink which was established in 2012, will introduce the latest designs inspired by the galaxy, sky and nature. Quyen pioneered the hand painting trend in Việt Nam, and her designs reflect creativity and unique ideas.
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| On the runway: Designer Hoang Quyen of Tiny Ink (centre) at the Spring/Summer International Fashion Week in April. — Photo courtesy of the organiser |
Nguyen Ngoc Le, the winner of the Vietnam Emerging Designer Contest, will also introduce Village, a collection inspired by rural Vietnam. The collection features materials like wool and linen. Le beat hundreds of other contestants by designing a mini collection in only 10 days, convincing the jury to name the designer the winner. This is the first time the contest has been held as part of VIFW.
Big names in the Vietnamese fashion industry will also attend the event. Fashion design star power will include Canifa with the collection Street Spirit by designer Le Ha, Luala with a collection inspired by nature and music by designer Vu Ta Linh, 21SIX with the collection Sandy Stormy, and I Hate Fashion with the collection The Memoirs by Victoria Huyen Nguyen
International fashion designers and brands attending will include Julien Fournie (France), Joe Chia (Malaysia), Boys of Bangkok (Thailand), Frederick Lee (Singapore), Priyo Oktaviano (Indonesia), and Atelier Chardon Savard Paris (France).
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| Black and gray reboot: Village, a mini collection by Nguyen Ngoc Le, will be introduced during International Fashion Week on November 1-6 - Photo courtesy of the organiser |
Asia’s Most Influential Designer of 2014, Joe Chia, will introduce a new persona collection called Chapter 8. Muted wine and taupe colours will paint the collection in a new direction, accompanied by oversized silhouettes and experimental cuts and tailoring. Fashioned from street influences, intricate draperies, and delicate embroideries, Chapter 08 is the beginning of a new expedition.
The collections will be presented by leading models, such as Thanh Hang – judge of Vietnam’s Next Top Model contest (VNTM), La Thanh Thanh – first runner-up of VNTM 2016, and many foreign models.
Launching platform for fashion
VIFW comes to Hanoi after three highly successful HCM City seasons showcasing the most impressive collections by notable Vietnamese and international fashion designers and brands.
"From now on, VIFW will host two shows per year, with HCM City presenting the Spring/Summer collections and Hanoi the Fall/Winter collections," said Le Thi Quynh Trang the founder and president of VIFW.
“From its inception in 2014, the event has attracted millions of Vietnamese fashion-lovers and been highly regarded by the world’s fashion critics and followers,” she said. “It has also been seen as a key development in Vietnam’s fashion industry, which is regarded as one of the most dynamic emerging fashion markets in the world.”
“Thanks to VIFW, a number of local fashion designer names such as Hoang Minh Ha, Thuy Nguyen, Andian Anh Tuan and Ly Giam Tien — as well as brands like Canifa, I Hate Fashion and Tiny Ink — have been popularised and gained a greater regional and international profile.”
The participation of leading international fashion designers such as the Japanese "Queen of Bridal Wear" Yumi Katsura, notable Italian couturier Renato Balestra, French couturier Julien Fournié, the Korean King of Menswear, Songzio, and legendary Japanese designer Kenzo have brought global fashion talent to the runway and established VIFW on the world stage.
“We are delighted to see the increasing popularity of VIFW reflected by audience support and media coverage through local and international channels. It is a clear indication of the success of the platform and an essential motivation for us to evolve the concept and push Vietnam’s fashion boundaries forward by organising two dedicated fashion weeks per year,” she said.
