I entered the fashion industry from a very early age. When I prepared for my wedding at the age of 21, I paid more attention to Ao Dai, which are the most picked costumes for the bride, mothers and female guests at the ceremony. I bought a guidebook of tailoring Ao Dai and made Ao Dai outfits for my fiancé, my mother and my mother-in-law on the occasion. These were the first Ao Dai I had made and they were all complimented on by the wearers.

Fashion designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam (centre) and models of his Ao Dai collection.

Actually, I used to prefer working on fashionable outfits, however, it came as fate that I had an opportunity to design Ao Dai for special guests, and became more passionate about the traditional gown.

In 2015, I worked as a costume designer for a theatrical show entitled ‘Women in love’, and my Ao Dai designs at the show were so enthusiastically welcomed by the audience that I decided to develop my career focussing on Ao Dai. It was a tough decision, though.

Do you think that it was fortunate that you have earned success with your Ao Dai brand?

Ao Dai have brought about many turning points in my life. Since I decided to focus my career on the traditional Vietnamese gown, I have been invited to a number of Ao Dai festivals in Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, among others.

My Ao Dai collection called Sen Vang (Golden Lotus) impressed the organising board of the 26th Couture Fashion Week New York in 2017, earning me an opportunity to become the first Vietnamese designer to attend the event.

When my collection was chosen for the first catwalk event of the week, I was extremely happy and nervous as it was the first time that Vietnamese Ao Dai excelled on such a prestigious global fashion stage. 

Following the success of ‘Golden Lotus’, I was then invited to many fashion weeks around the world, where I have introduced Ao Dai to international friends. In January 2018, my ‘Women in Love’ collection’ was chosen to open the Paris Fashion Week-Haute Couture and won much applause from the audience.

Witnessing Ao Dai designs on the international stage has fuelled my motivation to bring the traditional outfit to more major fashion events in the world.

You must have received many impressions from international friends for your Ao Dai designs. Can you share one of your memories about this?

When I brought my ‘Golden Lotus’ collection to New York, I impressed the organising board of the 26th Couture Fashion Week New York’ and was invited to the first catwalk event. International models also showed their interest in donning the elegant outfit of the Vietnamese people.

Do Trinh Hoai Nam’s collections were chosen for the first catwalk at the world’s two large fashion events, the New York Couture Fashion Week on September 8, 2017 and the Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture 2018 on January 23, 2018.

At the Paris Fashion Week-Haute Couture 2018, I blended French cultural features into laps of Ao Dai, receiving a lot of clapping from the attendants. Many international celebrities met me after the event to order an Ao Dai of their own to attend the Cannes Film Festival. The order inspired me to design the collection ‘The World As I See It’, which was printed with the national flags of countries attending the Cannes Film Festival.

The collection was then featured on the red carpet at the festival, creating special emotions for me.

There must be difficulties to conquer the international fashion stage, can you share some of them?

The high bar of the requirement set by international organisers is very challenging for Vietnamese designers.

The expense of participating in such events can discourage many designers. For example, it might cost you tens of thousands of Euros for a major fashion week, excluding payment for your team, whose qualifications must meet the requirement of the organising board. It is not to mention the fierce competition at professional platforms, which gather many famous names in the fashion industry.

Thank you so much for your sharing!

Designer longs to blend traditional Vietnamese weaving with Ao Dai designs

In addition to being successful at her business as an Ao Dai designer, Lan Huong has also paid great attention to blending the traditional weaving of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups to her Ao Dai creations and has brought them to fashion shows both at home and abroad.

 

Ancient Ao dai show held in Hanoi

Several ancient Ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) samples have been presented at the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre recently. 

 

Winners of Mrs Ao Dai Vietnam Europe 2018 announced

The Mrs. Ao Dai Vietnam Europe 2018 pageant took place in Prague capital of the Czech Republic from June 15-16 (local time) with the purpose to honor the graceful and delicate beauty of Vietnam’s traditional long dress.

 

Beauty contest honouring ao dai held in Paris

Phi Thi Thuy Linh was crowned Mrs. Ao Dai Vietnam, a contest to honor the beauty of the traditional costume.

 

Ao Dai collection featuring national flags to be showcased at Cannes Festival

Hanoi-based fashion designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam will showcase his Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) collection, featuring the national flags of 42 countries from around the world, at the Cannes Film Film Festival 2018 in France this May.

 

Source: NDO