Twenty years of Vietnamese fashion

Twenty years of Vietnamese fashion

Two decades ago Vietnamese people wore uninspiring single-coloured outfits, but today local designers are about to spread their designs globally, said Harp

Ms Thien Huong, the chair of Sun Flower Media, presented at RMIT’s Producing Fashion: Made in Vietnam event and led a panel discussion reflecting on the heritage of Vietnamese fashion.

“We are a developing country, so there is not much to say about fashion trends, but there is a history, there is a way people have presented themselves for centuries.”

Ms Thien Huong started the presentation with the history of the ao dai before commenting on the impact of the war.

Ms Thien Huong, the chair of Sun Flower Media. Ms Thien Huong, the chair of Sun Flower Media.

“Back then, there were almost no bright coloured clothes,” Ms Thien Huong said.

“Every outfit was in brown, black, and blue.”

“People were so miserable; they only cared about their living.”

Luxury brands only came to Vietnam in 1997 with the flagship Louis Vuitton store in Hanoi, followed by other brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo in 2005. These imported luxury brands brought to Vietnam the idea of haute couture, and helped inspire young Vietnamese to learn about international fashion.

Ms Tran Nguyen Thien Huong (right) with RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald. Ms Tran Nguyen Thien Huong (right) with RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald.

“Some local designers started quite early, such as Nguyen Cong Tri and Nguyen Hoang Hai,” Ms Thien Huong said.

“They were the first generation after Minh Hanh and Si Hoang to make remarkable changes and to bring their designs to stages.”

She added that in recent years the popularity of ready-to-wear fashion has started to rise.

“The designers representing this market are Thuy Nguyen, Ly Quy Khanh, Li Lam, I hate Fashion, Phuong My, and Do Manh Cuong.”

Ms Thien Huong believes that the future of Vietnamese fashion is in the hands of hundreds of designers who are working out of their own boutiques.

“A lot of them might be coming from RMIT in the future,” she reasoned.

Sharing the same faith in the future of Vietnamese fashion, Victoria Ho, Head of the Fashion Department at RMIT Vietnam, commented: “Vietnam is booming in this industry.”

“What’s happening is very exciting, from manufacturing to retail.

“It’s just a very wonderful time for Vietnam.”

Also on the panel were three Vietnamese designers representing three different fashion styles and generations including ao dai designer Si Hoang, Li Lam from LAM boutique, and emerging designer Do Manh Cuong.

The panelists share experiences and visions of the Vietnamese fashion industry. The panelists share experiences and visions of the Vietnamese fashion industry.

Story: Hai Yen

  • Events
  • Fashion

Related news