HÀ NỘI — Đỗ Trịnh Hoài Nam from Hà Nội has been selected as designer of the year 2017 at the fifth annual Áo dài Festival being held in HCM City.

The designer with his áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) collections — Sen vàng (Golden lotus) and Thế giới như tôi thấy (The world as I see it) — presented at the opening of the festival last weekend, had won the favour of many attendees at the show.

The designs in the two collections included patterns decorated with gold, with each product costing between US$10,000 and $20,000.

Earlier, Nam took part in two of the world’s two big fashion events, the New York Couture Fashion Week on September 8 and the Paris Fashion Week — Haute Couture 2018 on January 23. His collections were chosen for the first catwalk there.

"Women in love" collection by Nam also impressed at the Paris Fashion Week, with the haute couture style originating in Nam’s journey to find the beauty hidden deep inside the soul of women.

Born in Hà Nội, Nam’s love for fashion began when he was 13.

He started his career as a tailor in his village, Xuân Đỉnh, which is famous for handicraft products. 

In 2003, he rose to fame after wining the Việt Nam Collection Grand Prix 2014, presented by the Việt Nam Design Institute, and became one of the finalists at Mercedes Benz Asia Fashion Week 2014.

Nam has attended leading fashion events at home and abroad. His áo dài collections have impressed Vietnamese and foreigners.

He has worked with movie stars and pop idols, and now owns a garment and fashion company, as well as a modelling agency. His shops in Hà Nội and northern provinces offer some 80 designs and accessories each, with a new collection added each year.

His elegant and eye-catching pieces, using high-quality silk, satin, cotton and linen, are considered glamorous. — VNS