Domestic designers help promote Vietnamese fashion abroad
Lao Cai ethnic woman vows to preserve traditional embroidery

An outfit in the collection Current Memoir inspired by the ocean's purity by Luong Thuy Ngoc. VNS Photo Minh Thu

The graduation event of the London College for Fashion and Design (LCDF) will introduce 25 collections with the theme of In:Visible.

Well-known designers Lam Gia Khang and Nguyen Chi Nghia will open the shows with their latest collections on August 9 and 10.

Senior lecturer Gary Wilson said the theme is based around the idea that what can start as an initial idea in one’s imagination can be brought to life by a designer’s creativity, talent and skills. As always, LCDF aims to reach new limits this year, with young and talented designers making their mark in the fashion industry like never before, where the collections of garments presented are the story-tellers.

“The fashion show explores these young creatives’ imaginations, showcasing their visionary designs to the world. These unique designers are set to be the change makers in different aspects of the industry from pattern-cutting, embellishment, print and construction techniques. Each collection has a different and powerful message drawing inspiration from anything from Asian culture, sci-fi films to punk culture.”

Visitors will have the chance to see different stories told by the designers through the outfits, music and images.

“For us, fashion is a magical world where we turn invisible ideas to visible artworks,” said Luu Viet Anh, designer of the Toucher collection, inspired by the Vietnamese context of the 1930-50’s blending the merging of cultures between Asian and Western influences.

“It’s a chance for us to express creativity; our concerns about culture, history and tradition of different regions in the world; the awareness of protecting the environment; and the hope for best things in life,” he said.

“We want to contribute to renovate the fashion industry of Vietnam.”

The exhibition area reflects the process of initiating, creating, making and finishing the collections through photo shoots, portfolios, films and the outfit themselves.

The graduation fashion show of the LCDF is organised annually but this year, it will be the first time a space for traditional brocade has been arranged.

LCDF Director Ha Thi Hang said ethnic women from the northern mountainous region will present and sell their products made from brocade using traditional dyeing and weaving technique, such as clothes, bags, scarves and decorative objects.

“In this course designed by English and Vietnamese experts, the students have a chance to understand the traditional materials and apply their values to their studying programme as well as their products,” said Hang.

“We believe that the inspiration from traditional values will help them deliver sustainable and impressive designs for the world market in the future. In their careers, they will also contribute to promote Vietnamese culture and handicraft.”

Nguyen Phuong Thanh will present menswear collection Our Grey – s a journey of escaping from the darkness towards positivity of people with autism.

Sai Seng Leng from Myanmar also gives priority to menswear with the collection Culture Decay inspired from traditional costumes of the Shan people in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Thai Thi Trung Anh honours traditional embroidery, dyed fabrics and pleating with the collection Revelation inspired by the Pu Péo ethnic group of Vietnam. Through this collection, Anh sought to bring the traditional costumes of the culture to the modern fashion world.

Other highlights of the fashion show include the collection Diwali Deepavali by Nguyen Viet Anh, The Shape of Time with inspiration from Dong Son bronze drums designed by Nguyen Quynh Anh, Current Memoir inspired by the ocean's purity by Luong Thuy Ngoc, Retrouve La Banlieue drawing inspiration from the French countryside by Ngo Phuong Linh and streetstyle collection Trickster’s Fairground by Kamila Harasimowicz from Poland.

VNS