From classroom to village: RMIT’s immersive fashion course

From classroom to village: RMIT’s immersive fashion course

A new fashion course at RMIT offers students the chance to step into the heart of Vietnam’s textile heritage, learning directly from artisans and living alongside ethnic minority communities.

RMIT University Vietnam’s Bachelor of Fashion (Enterprise) program has taken hands-on learning to new heights with its innovative course, Cultural and Contemporary Vietnamese Textiles. This course features an immersive two-week field trip where students visit ethnic minority groups, artisans, modern factories, and fashion businesses, blending small-group travel with cultural immersion.

Associate lecturer of Fashion and course coordinator Titi Rylander said: “Learning about fashion materials should not be confined inside a classroom. It’s about feeling, touching, and seeing things firsthand, and conversing with the people doing the real work. Through this hands-on approach, students gain a profound understanding of the traditions, challenges, and innovations that define Vietnam’s textile industry.”

RMIT students and course coordinator Titi Rylander with artists from Du Du Indigo studio. (Photo: Mitchell Vassie, Bui Hoang Tien Dung) RMIT students and course coordinator Titi Rylander with artists from Du Du Indigo studio. (Photo: Mitchell Vassie, Bui Hoang Tien Dung)

A travelling course

In the inaugural course last semester, students began their journey online, preparing through lectures on cultural appropriation, sustainability, and best practices for being guests in diverse cultural settings. But the real magic happened during the two-week field trip to Northern Vietnam.

Here, students visited fashion designers, artisan studios, and textile factories in and around Hanoi. They explored modern industrial textile manufacturing, as well as contemporary textile designers’ practice based on Vietnamese heritage. They also ventured into Hoa Binh Province for five days, staying with Muong, Dao, and H’mong ethnic people, learning about their traditional crafts, and even trekking kilometres through forests to explore natural materials.

Du Du Indigo dyed fabric The students learned about indigo dye at Hanoi-based Du Du Indigo studio, where artists have adapted the Japanese Katazome dyeing technique using locally sourced glutinous rice flour and rice bran. (Photos: Bui Hoang Tien Dung)

Fashion student Dinh Ngoc Gia Bao described the experience as “one of the most engaging and eye-opening study experiences” she has had. She reflected on the thrill of “always being on the go – learning from ethnic communities, meeting brand owners and artisans, and creating handmade textile products along the way.”

Learning from the field

The course not only teaches students about textiles but also fosters meaningful connections with Vietnam's rich cultural heritage. By engaging with artisans through homestays and collaborative projects, students gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of textiles and the daily lives of the people who create them.

This cultural immersion is a cornerstone of the course. As Ms Rylander notes, many Vietnamese students have limited exposure to ethnic cultures. “The students are interested in sustainability and culture, but they don’t have a touchpoint yet. This course gives them that connection,” she said.

Students learn textile making The course includes workshops with ethnic artisans on natural materials and traditional techniques in textile making. (Photos: Bui Hoang Tien Dung, Titi Rylander)

Fashion student Bui Hoang Tien Dung (Adrian) shared that his most memorable moments came from interacting directly with the artisans.

“Our guides were skilled ethnic craftspeople. Our materials weren't hard-to-find supplies but leaves from their forests and plants growing along pathways,” Adrian said.

“This revelation made me realise how often I had overlooked the materials in my environment – the flowers in my grandmother's garden, leftover yarn from previous projects, or fabric scraps from my sister’s sewing. I discovered that by incorporating these materials into my projects, I could create sustainable works with a personal connection.”

Silk artisan Phan Thi Thuan shows RMIT students how to craft lotus silk from delicate threads inside lotus stems. Silk artisan Phan Thi Thuan shows RMIT students how to craft lotus silk from delicate threads inside lotus stems. (Photos: Bui Hoang Tien Dung, Titi Rylander)

A new perspective on fashion

The immersive nature of the course left a mark on students, influencing their future work in fashion.

For Bao, the experience completely shifted her view on fashion: “I used to believe that preserving a craft meant making it more widely known, but that perspective came from my role as someone who designs, builds businesses, and monetises fashion. The artisans themselves don’t necessarily share that vision. And even if their craft were to be introduced to a larger audience, there’s a bigger question – who truly benefits?”

“Moving forward, I want to be more mindful and stay open to different ways of thinking about fashion beyond just trends and commerce,” she said.

RMIT students with silk artisan Phan Thi Thuan RMIT students with silk artisan Phan Thi Thuan (Photo: Titi Rylander, Bui Hoang Tien Dung)

As for Adrian, the course was a journey of rediscovering value in his surroundings and breaking free from conventional thinking. “Most importantly, it taught me that often the most precious resources and inspirations lie within our reach, simply waiting to be noticed and utilised,” he said.

The students’ experiences highlight how a forward-thinking approach to education can shape the next generation of fashion practitioners – creative, mindful, and deeply connected to the world around them.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

Masthead image: Bui Hoang Tien Dung | Thumbnail image: Titi Rylander

26 February 2025
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