Tuesday 31 August 2010

France honours Vietnamese fashion designer



Vietnam’s leading fashion designer Minh Hanh has been honoured by the French Ministry of Culture and Information for her contributions to boosting France-Vietnam cooperation in the area of fashion.

The French Consul General, Nicolas Warbery, presented Dang Thi Minh Hanh with the title of “Arts and Literacy Knight” of the Minister of Culture and Information, Renaud Donedieu de Vabres, in Ho Chi Minh City on June 5.

Minh Hanh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Vietnam Fashion and Design Institute was the country’s first fashion stylist who has been granted this title.

The French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City said that over the past years, Minh Hanh has acted as a bridge linking France and Vietnam in the fashion area. In 2001, she was invited to be a member of the jury of ESMOD International Fashion School. One year later, she organised a show, entitled “White Night,” in Paris” and the other, named “Far East,” in Nantes.

She has also been a partner of the French Embassy in Ha Noi and the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in organising the Hue Festival, a symbol of bilateral cooperation in the cultural and arts field.

(Source: VNA)

Local designer made French chevalier

Knight in shining fashion: Designer Minh Hanh (centre) poses with friends after receiving the title last night. — VNS Photo Thanh Vu

Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh was granted the title Knight of Arts and Letters (Chevaliers des Lettres et des Arts) by the French government for her contribution to promoting Franco-Vietnamese cultural co-operation in fashion.

Hanh was given the title by Consul General of France Nicolas Warnery in HCM City last night.

Hanh is a leading figure in Viet Nam’s fashion industry and is well-known for her successful combination of Vietnamese traditional fabrics with modern styles, which is present in her ever-changing ao dai designs. Her various collections have been introduced in many countries like Japan, Germany, France and the US. She became the first Vietnamese designer awarded an international prize at a Tokyo Fashion Fair in 1997.

As a director of the Vietnam Fashion Design Institute (Fadin), Hanh initiated Viet Nam Fashion Week – a rendezvous of professional designers, and Viet Nam Collection Grand Prix – a competition for young designers with an international jury, including examiners from the French Fashion Design Institute.

She soon became the bridge between Vietnamese and French fashion after helping boost fashion activities between the two countries through different programmes signed with the French Fashion Design Institute.

Vietnamese designers have won scholarships to France for further study in fashion while French lecturers of fashion have come to Viet Nam to provide training courses to 15 young talented Vietnamese designers.

In 2002, Hanh held two fashion shows dubbed White Night in Paris and Far East in Nantes after joining a two-month course for professional designers in Paris.

She was also invited to join the jury of ESMOD by Paris Cultural Department. As a key fashion partner of the French Consulate in HCM City, she collaborated with French directors and artists to direct Vietnamese and French programmes at Viet Nam’s Festival Hue.

Established in 1975 by French General de Gaulle, the title Knight of Arts and Letters is given to people with outstanding achievements or great contribution to the arts and literature to France and the world. — VNS

Ao dai designer – Cong Tri

With 1,500 pieces of fashion on his resume, a local designer has reached the heights of acclaim yet still works tirelessly to innovate beauty.

Known for his “rebellious” ideas, original styles, visually attractive colors and decorative patterns, Nguyen Cong Tri’s favorite collection entitled “Blood” debuted in 2006.

“While blood is often associated with death and ending, I believe blood marks the beginning,” the designer said. “I’m inspired by it.”

Perhaps the raw color best captures Tri’s passion as a designer, as he had cultivated his dreams of being in the fashion business as a youth growing up in a poor neighborhood in central Da Nang City.

Born in 1978 into a large family, Tri, like many countryside youths, left his hometown for Ho Chi Minh City where he graduated from the Department of Industrial Arts at the HCMC Architecture University in 2002.

He first gained recognition when he won prizes at the Vietnam Collection competition and Asia Collection Makuhari contest in Japan, both in

His designs have been displayed at major shows in Vietnam and abroad ever since. Notable collections include Sac Mau Mua Ha (The colors of summer), Tay Keo Mong Du (Sleepwalking scissors) and Sieu Thoat (Salvation).

One of his designs, a black and red party gown which he adorned with nature-inspired pictures and matched with strokes of body paint, debuted at Vietnam Fashion Week in April 2003to critical acclaim.

His designs helped famous model Xuan Lan achieve a top 10 finish at the Models’ Olympics held in Shanghai in 2003.

Celebrity threads

Tri has long contributed to the beauty and success of Vietnamese celebrities in their careers.

Famed pop singer Minh Thuan was Tri’s first celebrity client. Other singers such as My Tam, Viet Quang and Thanh Thao followed suit in commissioning him to make stage outfits as well as casual wear.

Designing for singers is a time-consuming task, according to Tri, as he usually queries them about the songs they plan to perform, the accompanying dances and their sartorial and performing styles.

Originality is a key element in designing singers’ clothing as the performers always want to look their best in front of the public, but don’t want their outfits to imitate those of their colleagues.

The most important thing is to ensure the outfits are trendy yet elegant and practical, and are able to highlight the artist’s glamor but not clash with traditional perceptions.

“Despite these challenges, I love designing for singers as the glittery outfits capture the charged atmosphere onstage and its fantastical characteristics,” Tri said. “Singers have different styles and requirements and catering to them helps me hone my skills.”

Sometimes Vietnamese singers commit fashion faux pas, but in general each has their own distinctive style, Tri said.

Hardwork pays

At 30-year-old, Tri has worked ceaselessly both as a designer and a businessman.

He believes that Vietnam designers must sell their own products and thus has opened his own fashion and advertising company.

His trademark Kin and Nguyen Cong Tri is well-known in the local market. Having graduated specializing in graphic design, his company also creates compact disc covers for music albums.

“Unlike those who think doing business hampers a designer’s creativity, I think these two fields complement each other well and have helped me to advance my career,” Tri said.

A perfectionist who steers clear of the vices in the celebrity world, Tri continues to introduce aesthetically pleasing and highly creative fashion pieces that wow the public and delight their owners.

The designer stresses that hard work and dedication are key to success in the fashion industry.

“Clients are choosy nowadays, they make smart choices in their clothes and keep abreast of all the latest international trends,” he said. “Since I was a child, I had been taught by my mother to work hard and dream big in order to achieve all that my heart desires.”

Ao Dai designer – Thuy Duyen


These are beautiful unique traditional Vietnamese dresses custom-made designs by Thuy Duyen. The ao dai prices varies depending on the complexity of the dress. A basic one will cost you anywhere between $100 to $175. A fancy one will cost you more starting at $180 and up. Bridal ao dai set starts at $450 and up. Please contact Thuy Duyen Design for more information.

Vietnamese actress Viet Trinh in ao dai fashion 2010

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Vietnamese actress Viet Trinh in ao dai gallery

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

Viet Trinh actress

A Vietnamese girl in white Ao Dai fashion

Vietnamese girls in Ao Dai fashion

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Mai Phuong Thuy in Ao Dai fashion

Mai Phuong Thuy (born on August 6, 1988) was crowned the 10th Miss Vietnam at the Vinpearl Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam on August 26, 2006.At 1.84m, she is the tallest Miss Vietnam up until now.


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Cao Thuy Duong in Ao Dai fashion


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