Fashion collections inspired by the quintessence of Vietnamese culture and heritage will be presented during a show next month.

Eight Hanoi-based designers will showcase their latest creations in this special show entitled Bước Chân Di Sản (Footsteps of the Heritage). The event is the first of HC Fashion Show – a project that will be held four times every year in different famous tourist spots across the country.

The show will take place on October 20 at the Centre of Vietnamese Craft Village in the famous ceramic Bat Trang Village in Hanoi suburban.

The series is the brainchild of former supermodel Ha Vy and director Hoang Cong Cuong, who is the mastermind of several big events in Vietnam including the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 31 in Hanoi in May.

Explaining the reason why he decided to co-operate with model Ha Vy to organise the show, director Cuong said: “Two of us share a common wish – it’s to spread the quintessence and values of Vietnamese culture to the world through fashion. After the SEA Games, I think I’ve gained more confidence to conduct this project.”

According to model Ha Vy, she and the director have been working with each other for more than 10 years so they both know each other very well.

“Unlike all other previous shows that we have worked together, this show will be completely different as we are initiators, producers and directors. When we decided to collaborate, the commercial benefit isn’t our purpose. We just want our shows can be something that we can do for our Vietnam,” said the former model, who currently runs a model agency in Hanoi.

Discussing the financing of the shows, the former model said both she and director Cuong have accepted they will have to spend their own saving money.

“It’s will be great and highly appreciated if anyone understands the project’s meaning and purpose and wants to share the burden with us," Vy said.

"Otherwise, we are ready to spend our own money on this enthusiastic project."

In their first shown next month in Bat Trang, 60 models who were selected from casting on September 20 will present collections by Hanoi-based designers.

Founder and Creative Director of La Pham brand, designer Pham Ngoc Anh, will showcase her collections that were presented recently in Switzerland and Greece. La Pham is known for her distinctive brocade creations that combine both modern and traditional features, especially the ones inspired by Vietnam’s ethnic culture.

Despite designer Ha Duy having a busy schedule working on his own annual show at the beginning of November, he said he couldn’t resist joining this project as he understands the importance of spreading the quintessence of Vietnamese culture through fashion.

Duy will unveil his collection Sứ which he has been designing specially for the show.

He said: “I have named the collection Sứ because in Vietnamese, this word refers to different meanings such as porcelain or mission [sứ mệnh]. All the creations are white, presenting the signature colour of porcelain, and were made from the eco-friendly bamboo fabric.”

Áo dài (traditional dress) designer Hương Queen will introduce a collection of glamorous long-train dresses. The dresses feature sequin-embellished and rich-embroidered patterns that were inspired by the ones painted on Bat Trang ceramic products.

Other designers participating in the show are Helene Hoai, Vu Viet Ha, Kenny Thai, Seven Uomo, and Dez.

After the show in Bat Trang, the organisers will host other shows in Tam Chuc Pagoda Complex in Ha Nam Province, the Mam Xoi Hill in Mu Cang Chai terrace rice fields in northern mountainous Yen Bai Province, and the Hai Ly sea-swept collapsed church in Nam Dinh Province.

Ha Vy said: “In the next shows, we will invite designers from other regions of the country to participate. Depending on a specific location, we will also seek the support of local artisans, who will take part in the show as models." 

Source: Vietnam News