FASHIONISTAS: Lê Thị Quỳnh Trang (middle), President of the Việt Nam International Fashion Week and Council of ASEAN Fashion Designers, and designer Hoàng Minh Hà (third from right) in the opening show of the AVIFW Fall/Winter 2022. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese designer Hoàng Minh Hà opened the Aquafina Việt Nam International Fashion Week (AVIFW) Fall/Winter 2022 in Hà Nội on Thursday night with a collection highlighting the cultural heritage of northern Việt Nam.

Hà’s collaborative collection with Aquafina called “Sương” (Mist) featured 40 designs in blue, red and black sustainable fabrics.

The designer used a 3D pattern-making technique to create structured gowns which recreate images of terraced rice fields and mountain passes in northern mountainous areas, but still highlight the beauty of Vietnamese women.

Hà, a graduate of the HCM City University of Architecture, became famous after becoming the winner of Project Runway Việt Nam 2013, the Vietnamese version of the American TV reality series Project Runway.

His collections have been presented at Tiffany’s Fashion Week Paris and Việt Nam International Fashion Week.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lê Thị Quỳnh Trang, President of the Việt Nam International Fashion Week and Council of ASEAN Fashion Designers, said that “with the theme of ‘Taste of Heritage’, the Aquafina Vietnam International Week Fall/Winter 2022 portrays the timeless beauty of Vietnamese cultural heritages, and inspires designers to create designs which honour, preserve and promote the country’s precious cultural values.”

SEE YOU: Designer Adrian Anh Tuấn presents the collection “Hẹn Em” (See You) at the AVIFW Fall/Winter 2022. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

The opening show featured the collection “Hẹn Em” (See You) by designer Adrian Anh Tuấn with designs for men and women, including evening gowns, suits, long coats, dresses and retro-styled áo dài in vivid colours.

Tuấn, founder of fashion brand Valenciani, used sustainable fabrics made from oyster shells and bamboo for his collection.

Handbags in leather and other accessories were also included.

The event also saw the new collections of fashion brand Paul&Shark from Italy, and “Dệt Nắng Đông” (Weaving Winter Sunshine) by Hà Nội-based designer Đức Hùng.

The catwalk performances featured Vietnamese models and celebrities such as Thanh Hằng, Xuân Lan, and Khánh Vân.

The AVIFW Fall/Winter 2022 will be held until November 27, featuring designers Fredrick Lee from Singapore, Priyo Oktaviano from Indonesia, and Jovana Benoit from Haiti, and Vietnamese designers Hoàng Hải and Hà Linh Thư, as well as young designers from the Hà Nội-based London College for Design & Fashion. — VNS

HIGH FASHION :Miss Universe Vietnam 2019 Nguyễn Trần Khánh Vân modelled a design from Vietnamese designer Hoàng Minh Hà at the opening show of the AVIFW Fall/Winter 2022 held in Hà Nội on November 24. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

MISTY MORNING: Vietnamese model Thanh Hằng in a look from Hà’s collaborative collection with Aquafina called “Sương” (Mist). Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

WINTER WONDERLAND: Model Xuân Lan (right) in a look from the collection “Dệt Nắng Đông” (Weaving Winter Sunshine) by Hà Nội-based designer Đức Hùng (left). Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC