A model presents a design by Chinese fashion brand Ne Tiger, which looks completely similar to Vietnam’s ao dai - PHOTO: CHINA DAILY’S WEBSITE

The designs which were presented by Chinese fashion brand Ne Tiger in the China Spring/Summer Fashion Week in October 2018 look exactly the same as Vietnam’s traditional dress ao dai. Chinese newspaper China Daily posted photos of the collection on its website, describing the designs as “Chinese-styled”.

Although the event took place over a year ago, the post has recently gone viral on social media and provoked the ire of the Vietnamese.

Talking to Lao Dong newspaper, famous Vietnamese ao dai designer Sy Hoang said China Daily upset not only ao dai designers but also many Vietnamese.

Ao dai designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam said this is the clearest proof that Vietnamese ao dai is not inspired by Chinese cheongsam. “Every one knows that ao dai is completely different from cheongsam. This proves that Vietnamese ao dai is so beautiful that the Chinese brand had copied ao dai for its designs.”

However, he said Vietnamese designers should focus on innovating and promoting ao dai to the world, instead of going too far on the issue.

“This Chinese designer created only dozens of designs but Vietnamese designers have made ao dai over the years. I have presented ao dai in many countries. For me, this is the best way to claim Vietnam’s ‘sovereignty’ over ao dai. I hope there will be Ao dai Days in the future to assert that ao dai is the unique cultural identity of Vietnam,” he said.

Another world-known Vietnamese fashion designer, Minh Hanh, said, “At first I thought the collection was created by a Vietnamese designer but then realized it belonged to Chinese designer Zhang Zhifeng of Ne Tiger brand. That shocked me and even made me indignant because the designs are completely similar to Vietnam’s ao dai, so are the accompanying non la (conical hat) and khan vanh (scarf),” she said.

According to Minh Hanh, Zhang Zhifeng is an influential fashion designer in China. “This is a blatant act of piracy,” she noted. SGT

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