INSPIRING: Vietnamese model Anh Thư in a look by designer Lê Thanh Hoà, who will open AVIFW Spring/Summer 2023 with his latest collection called 'Hoa Trên Sóng Nước' (Flowers and the Waves). Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

HCM CITY – International and Vietnamese designers will showcase their new collections using sustainable fabrics at the Aquafina Việt Nam International Fashion Week (AVIFW) Spring/Summer 2023.

The event will take place in HCM City from July 13-17, marking the 15th show of Việt Nam International Fashion Week (VIFW).

Lê Thị Quỳnh Trang, VIFW president, spoke at the press conference on last Wednesday, saying: “After travelling to the world’s leading fashion weeks for three years, I decided to organise the first VIFW show in HCM City in 2014 with the aim of promoting the country’s fashion industry and turning Việt Nam into a destination for international designers and fashion brands.”

“Having a theme of 'Shaping the Future', the AVIFW Spring/Summer 2023 will introduce natural fabrics of Việt Nam and recycled materials to make Việt Nam become a potential market for sustainable fashion in the region and the world,” Trang said,

The fashion week will feature 16 international and Vietnamese designers and fashion brands, the London College for Design & Fashion in Hà Nội, and the Marangoni Fashion Institute in Milan, Italy.

Vietnamese designer Lê Thanh Hoà will open the event with his latest collection called “Hoa Trên Sóng Nước” (Flowers and the Waves), featuring dozens of ready-to-wear designs in organza, taffeta, raffia fabric and Mã Châu silk originated from the 600-year-old silk village in the central province of Quảng Nam.

“I use environmentally friendly materials and recycle fabrics to create unique designs in colours of white, silver, and different shades of blue,” he said.

Hoà, who was born in 1985 in Bình Dương Province, is a fashion design graduate of the HCM City University of Architecture.

He won first prize at Aquafina Pure Fashion in 2009, and then joined fashion shows such as Đẹp Fashion Show and VIFW. Hoà is also known for designing for pageant contests Miss Việt Nam and Miss World Việt Nam.

SHARP DESIGNS: Two looks by Australian designer Christos Chronis. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

The show will also include new collections from designers Fredrick Lee from Singapore, Xuan Thu Nguyen from the Netherlands, Kobi Levi from Israel, and Christos Chronis from Australia.

Hà Nội-based Vũ Việt Hà will close the fashion week with designs made of ramie fibre inspired by Vietnamese costumes in the 19th century.

Vietnamese top fashion models like Thanh Hằng and Anh Thư, and models from leading fashion and modelling agencies will take part in the catwalk.

The Việt Nam International Fashion Week is the leading fashion event in ASEAN, ranking fourth in Asia after Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai fashion weeks. — VNS

CLASSIC: Áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress) designs by Đặng Trọng Minh Châu. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

DIGNITARIES: VIFW President Lê Thị Quỳnh Trang (2nd from right) with AVIFW’s partners: Daniël Stork, consul general of the Netherlands (1st right); Rebecca Ball, senior Trade and Investment commissioner of Austrade Vietnam (2nd left); and Ly Vũ of the Economic and Trade Office, Embassy of Israel in Việt Nam (1st left). Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC