VietNamNet Bridge – A fashion show tomorrow night will highlight Italian Culture Week. It will feature accessories and jewelry from Bulgari and the latest designs by veteran Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh. The costumes will be paraded by Miss Viet Nam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy and models Thuy Dung and Ngoc Han. The event will also include performances by singer Thanh Lam, dancer Linh Nga and pianist Pho An My.

Flowing robes: Models Thuy Huong (left) and Ngoc Han are wearing Minh Hanh's designs. (Photo: VNS)
Designer Minh Hanh will debut a collection inspired by five classic Italian films: 1900; La Dolce Vita, The Leopard, The Battle of Algiers and La Strada.

"The collections express an Italian style that has long been admired around the world," Hanh said. "Concepts from these classic films will demonstrate that the Italian style of fashion has existed for centuries."

Hanh combines 3D technique with traditional hand embroidery and is known for her high skill in using Vietnamese materials like silk and brocade.

With an idea of merging elements of fashion, music and football into a harmonious whole that represents the immortality of the cultures of both countries, the fashion show would take audiences to the heart of Italy with a Vietnamese spirit, said Italian Ambassador to Viet Nam Lorenzo Angeloni at a press conference in Ha Noi yesterday.

The fashion show was sponsored by the Italian embassy within the framework of Italy-Viet Nam 2011 and held on the occasion of the 11th Edition of Italian Language Week around the world.

The embassy hosted a panel discussion yesterday about the influence of Italy on the fields of fashion, music and football to give Vietnamese audiences an insight into Italian culture. Hanh poke of how Italian creativity has influenced the fashion ideas in Viet Nam and of her inspirations from the Italian fashion world and Italian glamour.

Prof Nguyen Dai Dong, an expert on the history of Western music, also spoke about Italian music, and baritone Vu Manh Dung from the Viet Nam National Opera & Ballet performed some aria from Italian opera.

Anh Ngoc, a sports correspondent from the The Thao&Van Hoa (Culture and Sport) daily, presented his new book on Italian football and discussed the link between the Vietnamese people and Italy's most popular sport.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News