TRADIONAL FASHION: Designer Thuỷ Nguyễn’s new collection comprises áo dài designs in vivid colours for women the coming Lunar New Year holiday. Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

HCM CITY — Vivid colours are featured in a new collection of áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) by well-known fashion designer Thuỷ Nguyễn.

The collection celebrates the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, which falls on January 22 this year.

It includes áo dài designs for women in silk and satin in banana leaf green, light blue, red and lotus pink that the designer has created after her trips to beautiful remote areas across the country.

“I want to highlight Vietnamese women and their beauty through my designs,” said 41-year-old Thuỷ, founder of the Thuỷ Design House fashion brand.

A Hà Nội native, Thuỷ studied painting in Ukraine in 2003 and went on to become a self-taught fashion designer. She opened her first store in HCM City in 2011.

In 2016, she was invited to be a costume designer for Cô Ba Sài Gòn (The Tailor), an award-winning romantic comedy produced by movie star and producer Ngô Thanh Vân.

The film features Vietnamese women living in Sài Gòn (now HCM City) in the 1960s. Its leading character, actress Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc, was named the Face of Asia at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in South Korea in 2017.

For Cô Ba Sài Gòn, Thủy created many áo dài for the actors to wear. She said she loves working with Vietnamese satin, silk and velvet.

HOUSE OF THỦY: Designer Thuỷ Nguyễn. Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

Thuỷ loves travelling many places across the country and is inspired by ethnic minority women in remote areas. Each of her designs is linked to stories and dreams that women want to tell and share to the world.

Thuỷ’s previous collection called Tơ Hồng (Pink Silk) was released in May and included 30 designs, including long dress for women.

The collection features Vietnamese folk culture and lifestyle.

DASHING: Designs by Thuỷ Nguyễn reflect the nation's folk culture and lifestyle. Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

Thuỷ and other designers and local fashion brand names are offering áo dài in different styles and patterns, satisfying women who want beautiful outfits for Tết holiday.

The clothes are made of handloom fabric, linen, taffeta silk, voile and cotton with printed or embroidered patterns of flowers.

The set of áo dài and a pair of silk trousers cost VNĐ900,000 (US$37) to VNĐ2.5 million ($100), depending on quality and design.

“My mom and I want to be charming and traditional in áo dài for visits to my relatives and friends and for photo shot during Tết,” said Nguyễn Kim Chi, a 12th grader in District 3. – VNS