Fashion designer Thuỷ Nguyễn’s fashion exhibition, Mộng Bình Thường (Simple Dream), showcases 60 designs from different collections in Vietnamese materials that the country’s top designer has created since she first became involved in the industry a decade ago. — Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

HCM CITY — Female fashion designer Thuỷ Nguyễn will open an exhibition to celebrate her nine-year career in HCM City.

The event, Mộng Bình Thường (Simple Dream), will showcase 60 designs from different collections in Vietnamese materials that the country’s top designer has created since she entered the industry a decade ago.

Dozens of sculptures, paintings and accessories created by international and Vietnamese artists will also be featured alongside the display of Thuỷ’s designs. These objects are the designer’s creative sources of inspiration.  

“Each object at Mộng Bình Thường reflects my view of a matter at that time,” said Thuỷ, founder of the fashion brand Thuỷ Design House. “Both my designs and other artworks bring stories, dreams and messages that I have gained.” 

“I wanted to highlight Vietnamese folk culture and lifestyle through my exhibition,” the 39-year-old said. 

Fashion designer Thuỷ Nguyễn will open an exhibition to celebrate her nine-year career in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

 During the exhibition, Thuỷ will host talks on Vietnamese fashion with visitors, hoping to inspire them.

Thuỷ, a native of Hà Nội, loved working in fashion when she was at university in Ukraine in 2003. She studied painting but is self-taught in fashion design. 

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 featured Vietnamese women living in Sài Gòn (now HCM City) in the 1960s. The city’s traditional culture and lifestyle were highlighted. 

It was screened and honoured at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in Busan, Korea in 2017. The leading character, young actress Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc of HCM City, was named Face of Asia in the category Asia Star Awards 2017.  

In Cô Ba Sài Gòn, Thủy created áo dài (tradtional Vietnamese dress) creations highlighting the timeless beauty of the Vietnamese dress.

Fashion designer Thuỷ Nguyễn. — Photo courtesy of Thuỷ Design House

Last year, Thuỷ organised the catwalk show called Tình Tang (Folk Sound) featuring 60 áo dài designs in Vietnamese satin, silk and velvet.

Her clothes are inspired by Đông Hồ paintings, a folk woodblock art printed on paper from the bark of the dó tree by artisans from Đông Hồ Village in the north with colours made from natural materials. Each of her designs at Tình Tang features traditional cultural values of the country.

“My design shapes are distinctly Vietnamese,” said Thuỷ.

Thuỷ is still involved in painting and the arts. She is a founder of The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre, a cultural and arts centre that encourages young artists in different fields in HCM City. 

Last December, her oil-on-canvas painting, Sương Mù Đỏ Thẫm (Dark Red Fog) (160x160cm), sold for US$100,000 in an online auction called The (RED) Auction 2018 for the Global Fund at Sotheby’s.

The auction raised money to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS among people living on the outskirts of the Saharan region in Africa.

Mộng Bình Thường will open on November 7 and run through the end of the year at The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre at 15 Nguyễn Ư Dĩ Street in District 2. Tickets are available at the centre. – VNS