VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam Fashion Week will kick off tonight, April 18, showcasing autumn and winter collections by 18 Vietnamese and foreign designers at Ha Noi's Daewoo Hotel.

Dressed to the nines: A model in an outfit by French designer Francoise Hoffmann. — Photo tiin.vn 

The highlights of the week include a collection by French designer Francoise Hoffmann that features fashion made from silk and sheep fur in a technique that does not use any stitches.

Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh said the French designer was an innovator.

"Hoffmann is a pioneer in world fashion who is using materials in new ways," said Hanh. "She innovates by using traditional techniques with a combination of different materials."

Based in Lyon, Hoffmann is a designer for French haute couture firm Lanvin.

Leading local designers to feature their work at the three-day event include Ha Noi-based Vu Viet Ha, who will spotlight traditional hand-knitting in his collection inspired by images of people in the northern mountainous region. Ha combines materials such as wool, denim and silk in the collection.

Veteran designer Trong Nguyen has showcased his creativity at many past fashion weeks and this year presents fashion made by "three-dimensional cutting technology".

"My collection has a minimalism style and the use of e-dimensional cutting makes it very distinctive," Nguyen said, who adds that his designs also featured rose motifs to symbolise the beauty of women.

Nguyen will also help showcase work by a six-member team of young designers from the Viet Thang brand at the fashion week. Their collections will be sashayed by models tonight to kicking off the week of fashion.

Scottish patterns inspired designers from the Redwood group, whose clothes create the image of a young tomboy in a short jacket and tartan skirt made from felt cloth in reds, blacks and greys.

Another highlight during the week is a collection titled Music from the Ha Noi-based Chula brand. The brand's Spanish designer Diego Cortiza says he tries to remain independent of trends. "I don't know so much about trends for fall and winter as I think following trends is not important. Fashion is moving and at fashion week we need to showcase all styles," said the designer.

The Music collection will reflect the designer's love for music. The clothes are limited to the two basic colours of black and white and made from different materials such as black taffeta, khaki, velvet, denim and wool.

The music theme is featured in 30 fashion designs that combine Vietnamese and Spanish music melodies of flamenco and ca tru (ceremonial singing). The designer also uses graphic designs featuring Vietnamese musical instruments in his collection.

"Music and fashion are always together. For me music is my passion. My idols are musicians so this collection will be in the memory of musicians such as Bob Dylan, Trinh Cong Son, Bach and Mozart," said Cortiza.

The Music collection will be showcased on Saturday night.

The biannual event will be also feature pianist Pho An My, pop singers Thanh Lam and Ho Trung Dung.

The first Viet Nam Fashion Week was held in 1998 and has since become the main annual event for the Vietnamese fashion industry.

Source: VNS