Vietnam International Fashion Week-VIFW 2022 recently wrapped up in Hanoi, ending a successful year with many exciting events hosted by the fashion industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining the global trend, Vietnamese fashion designers paid greater attention to highlighting culture and using environmentally friendly materials for their products.
A fashion show held within the framework of the Vietnam International Fashion Week 2022. (Photo courtesy of the organiser)
In its 14th edition, Vietnam International Fashion Week featured the theme ‘Taste of Heritage’ to encourage the introduction of traditional values to domestic and international audiences. According to the organiser, the event attracted the participation of around 10,000 audience members who came to admire the latest creations by 18 Vietnamese and foreign designers.
The main stage featured the image of Turtle Tower - one of the iconic symbols of Hanoi. The catwalks of models at fashion shows at the event were accompanied by traditional music in various genres, such as ca tru (ceremonial singing), along with ethnic musical instruments.
Most collections focused on the theme ‘Taste of Heritage’. Opening the fashion week, designer Hoang Minh Ha introduced his collection entitled ‘Mist’, which was inspired from popular costumes in the Northern Delta region, such as conical hats, camisoles, and scarves.
All designs of his collection were made from silk along with fabrics made from coffee grounds, lotus silk, cacti, and oyster shells, which are less harmful to wearers and the environment.
The main stage featured the image of Turtle Tower - one of the iconic symbols of Hanoi. (Photo: vietnamnet.vn)
Another notable performance at the fashion event was the collection ‘Consigning the H'mong people to the future’ presented by Vu Viet Ha at the closing ceremony.
The collection included 33 designs inspired by H’mong ethnic costumes in Sa Pa Town, in northern province of Lao Cai.
Not only did they impress with their colours and sophisticated accessories, the costumes also revealed many stories about the culture and history of the H’mong ethnic community.
Meanwhile, the collection ‘Daisy and the sun’ by designer Vu Lan Anh put patterns and ancient motifs on the laps of the traditional Vietnamese ‘Ao Dai’. To tailor the collection, Lan Anh had to make reference to studies by senior researcher and painter Tran Hau Yen The and folklore artisan Vu Kim Loc.
Many other collections also spotlighted the theme of Vietnamese cultural heritage. Utilising velvet material, designer Duc Hung chose a classic quilting technique while his colleague Adrian Anh Tuan tailored evening dresses.
Meanwhile, participating international designers Frederick Lee (Singapore), Priyo Oktaviano (Indonesia), and Jovana Benoit (Haiti) added diversity to the runway with their latest collections.
The French brand Metiseko conquered the audience with a collection inspired by Hanoi, from images of Turtle Tower, Long Bien Bridge and Quang Ba Flower Market to the rows of flamboyant red trees around Hoan Kiem Lake. The French designers said that it was their first time working on My A silk from Tan Chau Village, An Giang Province, and that they were impressed by the special silk of Vietnam.
Peach flowers, lotus flowers, cranes, dragons, phoenixes, Dong Ho paintings, and terraced rice fields were also featured in the collections of many participating designers such as Thao Nguyen and Hoang Quyen, promoting the spirit of preserving and upholding culture and heritage.
Despite using similar images, each designer found their own way to process the materials, mix colours, and form their outfits.
In 2022, many other fashion events were held to honour natural heritage and national culture, such as the VC Fashion Show – Footsteps of Legacy, the ‘Childhood memories’ programme, and Elle Fashion Show 2022. It is predicted that the trend of combining fashion and culture will continue to grow strongly in the coming years.
President of Council of ASEAN Fashion Designers Le Thi Quynh Trang expressed her belief that this is the time for fashion designers to affirm the identity of Vietnamese designs and continue to bring Vietnamese fashion to the world.
She shared her hope that the VIFW 2022 will inspire participating designers to blend Vietnamese culture into their designs through the language of fashion.
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VIFW 2022 will inspire participating designers to blend Vietnamese culture into their designs through the language of fashion.
President of Council of ASEAN Fashion Designers Le Thi Quynh Trang
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My Hanh - Translated by NDO