Vietnamese designer delivering traditional flare to present day fashion
27 November, 2020
Created from delicate silk, intricately embroidered and with great, flared sleeves: Vietnamese 19th-century outfits do not seem an ideal fit for life found in the country's hectic modern cities.
But Nguyen Duc Loc, a 28-year-outdated entrepreneur, together with his 11-strong development team in Hanoi, is convinced the attire of their ancestors could make a return to modern-day living.
"My ambition is that in virtually any Vietnamese wardrobe, together with suits, trousers, dresses, there will be at least one costume based on an ancient design to wear on essential events," like festivals and weddings, he told AFP.
Based on his individual research, Loc and his service Y Van Hien reproduce outfits mainly from the Nguyen dynasty that spanned near a century and a half from 1802 -- a time when the ruling category wore extravagant, brightly coloured models embellished with symbols of electricity, such as dragons.
He wants everyone, men and women, to appreciate the "astonishing wonder" of ancient imperial-style clothing, he says, and understand the component this clothing plays found in Vietnam's cultural history.
In another of their first main commissions, Y Van Hien was asked to create costumes for Phuong Khau, an 18-episode YouTube drama about the emperor and empress of the Nguyen Dynasty.
The company -- which was setup in 2018 -- in addition has engineered costumes for singers, music videos and fashion shows.
Preserving culture
Despite most criticism that the designs have got strayed too far from the originals, also, they are seeing an evergrowing interest among young people.
Many choose to hire an outfit for a photoshoot, with prices beginning at $17.
"I think ancient-style costumes... are part of Vietnamese tradition that we have to preserve," said Pham Trang Nhung, a 22-year-old college student who had arrive to observe Loc's designs.
"I think young people today know more about Western dress."
Blossoming curiosity over outfits worn simply by generations past comes as officials from the sports activities and culture division in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue started out wearing the original "ao dai" -- an extended tunic worn more than trousers -- 1 day a month as a way to promote and preserve cultural values.
Although a far more comfortable and contemporary prospect than royal 19th-century clothing, some people say they are too restrictive and impractical nowadays.
On the other hand, a simplified version of a woman's ao dai even now forms part of some school uniforms on the south and central regions, is going to be worn simply by flight attendants about flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and is definitely embraced by many about special occasions.
Social media shows a good amount of pictures of little women posing in classic dress -- and with an increase of when compared to a dozen Facebook groups catering to those considering historic designs, some aficionados have sometimes banded together to make a rival design company to Loc's.
Nguyen Duc Binh, an editor of an arts magazine and an expert about traditional culture, said the attraction among the little is due to a desire to say themselves, and their satisfaction in their country, similarly to the youth of various other Asian nations.
"In some extra developed countries such as for example Japan and South Korea, traditional costumes is seen due to icons for the young people to check out," he said.
Adolescent Vietnamese "admire those countries' development" and "they have attempted to find some traditional things" from their private country's earlier to celebrate.(AFP)
Source: fashionunited.uk