Fashion designer Huệ Thi’s new collection comprises áo dài designs in vivid colours for women and girls. Photo courtesy of the organiser.

BÌNH DƯƠNG — The culture and lifestyle of Bình Dương Province are featured in a new collection of áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) by fashion designer and poet Huệ Thi. 

The collection celebrates 26 years of Bình Dương’s construction, development and growth, transforming from a poor province with a mostly agricultural economy to an economy featuring industry and services. 

It was introduced in a special cultural programme organised by local authorities in Thủ Dầu Một starting on January 3. 

The collection includes áo dài designs for women and girls in Vietnamese silk and satin in red, purple, lotus pink, yellow and black. 

The images of Bình Dương, which used to be a part of Gia Định - Sài Gòn (now HCM City) and its age-old cultural heritage, are featured. 

Áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) designs by Huệ Thi feature the culture and people of Bình Dương Province. Photo courtesy of the organiser.

“My new áo dài collections highlight the beauty of Southern women,” said 41-year-old Thi. “I used elements from the culture and costumes by 15 ethnic groups living in Bình Dương, including Kh’mer and Hoa people, to create my designs.”

Thi has created many áo dài for women and men. She loves working with the traditional silk called Lãnh Mỹ A, a famous satin that has been made for more than 100 years in Đồng Tháp and An Giang provinces.

Lãnh Mỹ A is sold to neighbouring provinces and exported to Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, France and other European countries. 

“My áo dài designs are inspired by Vietnamese women and their beauty. Each of my clothes is linked to women and their daily lives,” said Thi, who began her fashion career a decade ago.

Fashion designer Huệ Thi’s new collection comprises áo dài designs in vivid colours for women and girls. Photo courtesy of the organiser.

Bình Dương is one of the fastest growing provinces in the southern key economic zone and among the country’s hottest investment destinations. It attracted $2.6 billion worth of FDI last year, 45 per cent more than the full-year goal and up 74 per cent year-on-year.

The province has had four items of national intangible culture, including: Tương Bình Hiệp Lacquercraft, Bình Dương Pottery, Tân Khánh Bà Trà Martial Arts and the Kỳ Yên Festival of Tân An communal house. These are valuable heritage showing the richness and diversity in the cultural life of the people and land of Bình Dương. — VNS