VietNamNet Bridge – Many people love the traditional Vietnamese ao dai (long dress) look, but few have ever seen how the designs look when combined with beautiful brocades copied from or made by the nation's ethnic people.

Fashion fusion: Model Ngoc Han wears a design from the collection of Minh Hanh.

A fashion event taking place in France next month will be the first overseas to show people the different look, according to Eva Nguyen Binh, cultural counsellor at the French Embassy in Ha Noi.

The show will display ao dai collections from designers Minh Hanh, Hung Viet and Lan Huong.

Viet applies modern techniques by copying ethnic designs and printing them on fabric. Hanh uses silver necklaces to set off long dresses made with traditional brocade, much of the material dyed with plant extracts, including woad, while Huong produces her own embroidery using tribal designs.

Binh said the show would be a precious chance for French people to enjoy creations by Hanh, one of the few Vietnamese designers who have established reputations abroad.

The collections will be displayed at Hotel de ville de Paris (Paris Municipal Administration) on November 3.

This event is part of the Viet Nam-France Year which celebrates the success of cultural activities organised in both countries to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties.

Binh said another show would be held in Versailles on November 6 would also display the colourful costumes made by ethnic people.

These collections will be displayed at the Vietnamese Women's Museum in December.

The fashion shows will feature Vietnamese and French leading models including Miss Viet Nam 2010, Ngoc Han, and Miss France 2004, Laetitia Bleger.

Although Han is busy with her role as member of the jury for the Miss Viet Nam 2014 pageant, she said that she was longing for performing at the event.

VNS/VNN