HÀ NỘI – Designer Minh Hạnh has been named one of the top 10 ASEAN Artisans of 2016 by the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT).

This year, SACICT is organising ASEAN Selection 2016 under the theme “Innovative Craft Textiles in ASEAN”, which selects 10 outstanding textile and fashion designers from ASEAN countries.

Hạnh, from the Central Highlands province of Buôn Mê Thuột, was nominated to SACICT in addition to seven other Vietnamese artisans and designers.

They were selected by the Museum of Cultures of Việt Nam’s Ethnic Groups, located in the northern province of Thái Nguyên, at the request of SACICT.

The other artists include: the northern province of Cao Bằng’s Nông Thị Thược, the central province of Nghệ An’s Sầm Thị Bích, Hà Nội’s Lê Thị Lan Hương, the northern province of Hà Giang’s Vàng Thị Mai, the southern province of Ninh Thuận’s Lâm Nữ Minh, and the central province of Quảng Nam’s Võ Hoàng Hà Uyên.

“I’m joyous because I represent Việt Nam and have been selected by the award organisation,” said Hạnh. “This honour will give me more chances to showcase Vietnamese characteristics at an event gathering outstanding artisans and designers of ASEAN countries. It is important.”

Hạnh received a direct call from organisers in Bangkok and a request from the Vietnamese museum to send her profile to them, but she did not know much about the purpose and significance of the award.

She received a congratulatory letter from organisers along with a list of other selected artisans. When she saw the list of the top ASEAN artisans, she understood more about the award’s value, which is described as highly prestigious by Thailans’s Queen Sirikit.

Hạnh will display her works at the ASEAN Selection 2016 exhibition from August 15 to 20 at Museum Siam Bangkok, and will also attend the ASEAN Selection 2016 Award Ceremony. The award will be presented by Thailand’s Minister of Commere.

SACICT was established to promote and support the creation of Thai arts and crafts, as well as to promote their marketing both domestically and abroad.

The selection process was held on June 10 at Siam Kempinski Hotel. The works were selected by experts and distinguished persons in textile and fashion design in Thailand and Japan.

Born in 1961, Hạnh is the founder of Việt Nam Fashion Week, a professional biannual event in Việt Nam. She is one of Việt Nam’s leading designers and is globally known for pioneering designs honouring the beauty of Vietnamese brocade fabric made by ethnic groups in the northwestern and Central Highlands areas.

Her collections have been shown at many fashion shows around the world. She was awarded the French title Chevalier of Culture and Art and has won many international prizes, including New Designer at Asia Collection Makuhari in Japan in 1997 and the Japanese Fukuoka Prize for Arts and Culture 2015. -- VNS