Vietnam preps for major designer fashion showcase

Ho Chi Minh City, July 14 (VNA) - Vietnam will host the first International Fashion Week in Ho Chi Minh City this December with leading Vietnamese designers presenting their collections with their Asian and international counterparts. The Vietnam International Fashion Week co-organised by FIDe Fashion Weeks and the Multimedia Joint Stock Company would meet international standards of other fashion weeks held around the globe, according to an announcement. The event will be supported by the Asian Couture Federation and Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris, said the organisers. The fashion week will showcase the most extensive fashion line-up ever to have been presented in Vietnam. Le Thi Quynh Trang, founder of Multimedia JSC, which has made a significant contribution to the fashion landscape in Vietnam successfully producing Project Runway Vietnam and Vietnam's Next Top Model, said that she was impressed with the creativity and talent in fashion that exist in Vietnam. "I believe that Vietnam has the capacity to contribute significantly to world fashion, given the tremendous design talent we have here," she said, adding that FIDe Fashion Weeks' experience from their previous fashion event and expertise and ability would ensure that Vietnam International Fashion Week would be a great success. According to Frank Cintamani, Chairman of FIDe Fashion Weeks, the upcoming international fashion week in Vietnam is a tremendous opportunity to present the very best Vietnamese designers alongside the most esteemed Asian and international designers. "This unique event will help promote fast-growing changes and developments taking place here, and to also expose an international audience to exceptional Vietnamese fashion designers," said Cintamani. The chairman told the press recently that "we are delighted to have this opportunity to develop and promote the country's fashion industry and talent further. The combination of the very best Vietnamese talent alongside that from Asia and international will be a key milestone in Vietnam's position on the world stage for fashion." During the press meeting to announce the fashion week, the Asian Couture Federation announced its inclusion its latest member, Vietnamese designer Nguyen Cong Tri. Tri has become the federation's second Vietnamese member after Le Thi Quynh Trang, who was appointed governor of the Asian Couture Federation in early April. Emily Hwang, vice president of Asian Couture Federation, said: "Vietnam has emerged as one of the most exciting and dynamic countries in Asia. It has a long tradition of creativity and artistry. We see that international fashion week is a unique opportunity to promote Asian talent, both the best in Vietnam and our members, to an international audience."-VNA