Vietnamese fashion industry "positioned" on the international fashion map

Where designers' talents shine

For the first time in fashion history, 999 beauty queens and kings from all over the world will participate in the 2025 Global Student Fashion Week as Global Ambassadors. Not only will they appear to spread meaningful messages, they will also perform directly on the catwalk, wearing excellent collections from the young generation of Vietnamese and international designers. Global Student Fashion Week is the first fashion week in the world dedicated to fashion training institutions around the world, taking place from December 4 to 9, 2025 in Hanoi.

The week has the theme of “Sustainable Fashion”, the performances not only demonstrate skillful design techniques, but also convey strong messages about environmental responsibility, recycling culture and application of technology in modern fashion. Fashion, art, culture and technology blend together, creating emotional performances, with a combination of light, music, visual effects and interactive technology. According to the Founder and Chairman of Global Student Fashion Week 2025 - Mr. Le Tran Dac Ngoc, at this Fashion Week, each young designer will bring collections with a strong personal mark, reflecting the new creative thinking and pioneering perspective on fashion of the Gen Z generation.

With the largest scale in the history of student fashion, Global Student Fashion Week brings together 150 young designers from 30 training schools, 900 dancers and more than 6,000 honored guests. The event aims to not only set a record as the largest international fashion week in Vietnam but also promises to mark a new era for the international fashion industry.

Fashion enthusiasts all know about Vietnam International Fashion Week. After a decade of development, with 17 seasons, Vietnam International Fashion Week has left new impressions, bringing many Vietnamese fashion brands to the international level, opening up opportunities for exchange, cooperation and investment in the development of the Vietnamese fashion industry. Currently, Vietnam International Fashion Week is considered by experts to be the leading international fashion week in Southeast Asia and the 4th in Asia.

Ms. Trang Le, President of the Association of Southeast Asian Fashion Designers and President of Vietnam International Fashion Week, said: “Vietnam International Fashion Week is increasingly affirming its position and influence on the Vietnamese fashion industry. Wherever there is a fashion week, there is civilization and integration. We are proud to be the only international-class fashion show in Vietnam that gathers many famous domestic and foreign designers and fashion brands; fulfilling the mission of bringing the quintessence of domestic fashion to the world and being a bridge to bring world fashion trends to Vietnam.”

Hollywood actress Caylee Cowan on the red carpet of Cannes Film Festival 2023 wearing an outfit by designer Nguyen Minh Tuan. (Photo: NMTuan)

Not only participating in domestic fashion weeks, designers also "conquer" in other countries. In October 2024, designer Do Manh Cuong introduced the Spring - Summer 2025 collection at Shanghai Fashion Week. In September 2024, designer Tran Hung launched his 13th consecutive collection at London Fashion Week. The collection exploits the elegant beauty of orchids. Having pursued the "sustainable fashion" trend for many years, designer Tran Hung wants to convey the message of environmental protection through the image of orchids - a flower heavily affected by climate change. At the end of September 2024, designer Phan Dang Hoang introduced a new collection at Milan Fashion Week. The collection was inspired by silk paintings by famous painter Nguyen Phan Chanh, combined with ceramic shaping art to honor the artistic values ​​imbued with Vietnam.

Many international star artists choose costumes from Vietnamese designers.

Through each fashion week, Vietnamese designers have the opportunity to introduce their talents and affirm their position in the international market. Many international stars choose to wear outfits at major entertainment events around the world by Vietnamese designers. There are many names that have made their mark on the international fashion map such as: Le Cong Tri, Tran Hung, Chung Thanh Phong, Nguyen Minh Tuan, Tra Linh, Anh Thu, Adrian Anh Tuan, Kelly Bui, Hoang Hai, Thuy Nguyen...

Vietnamese fashion is attracting the attention of the world's top stars and international customers because of its diversity, freedom in design and the harmonious combination of traditional and modern features. Thanks to that, Vietnamese brands are gradually asserting their position, eliminating the prejudice that "Vietnamese fashion is cheap and has mediocre design thinking".

In 2024, two collections of the Jang Hana brand, “Midnight Glamour” and “Tropical Dream”, were selected to be displayed at the Paris Fashion Week Exhibition. This is the first time a Vietnamese fashion brand has been presented at one of the four largest fashion weeks in the world. Only half a year after the first success, Jang Hana made a strong impression on international fashion enthusiasts with a completely new collection called “Dance of Nature”. The collection is an affirmation that true beauty lies not only in a gorgeous appearance but also in purity, innocence and harmony with nature.

At the recently held Cannes Film Festival 2024, many world beauty queens such as: Miss Grand International 2022 - Isabella Menin, Miss Earth Malaysia 2021 - Nisha Thayananthan chose outfits by designers Nguyen Minh Tuan and Le Thanh Hoa to show off their figures on the red carpet.

In 2023, besides Beyonce, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Rosé (Blackpink), the list of famous clients of designer Cong Tri continues to expand with the appearance of the British "nightingale", Adele. Meanwhile, designer Do Long stirred up the 2024 Grammy with an elaborate design dedicated to the owner of the super hit "Kill Bill" SZA, in addition, his outfit was also worn by Emma Brooks McAllister and Izabella Metz.

Meanwhile, designer Le Thanh Hoa's fashion brand also received support from singer Halle Bailey, Paris Hilton... on the Oscar red carpet. Young designer Thai Huy also "caught the eye" of model Jourdan Nunn on the red carpet of the British Fashion Awards 2023. Along with that, names like FanCì Club, Bupbes, La Lune... continue to make Vietnamese fashion proud when being trusted by a series of famous K-Pop idol groups to appear together on shows or new MVs.

Chinese silver screen star Fan Bingbing stunned fashionistas at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in two gorgeous outfits by designer Chung Thanh Phong.

Star Pham Bang Bang was likened to the queen of the Cannes red carpet when she appeared in a unique beaded evening gown by designer Chung Thanh Phong. (Photo: CTPhong)

Also on the Cannes red carpet, American actress Caylee Cowan chose outfits designed by Nguyen Minh Tuan twice. The first dress had a blue butterfly motif, inspired by Blue Butterfly - her favorite work, which symbolizes freedom and living one's dreams. The second outfit was Hoang Kim, made in mid-2022, inspired by the image of Turtle Tower at Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi) at night.

“Vietnamese fashion has enough potential to make its name on the international fashion map. If the designer himself wants to reach out to the world, he should try to pursue it,” designer Tran Hung emphasized. According to designer Phan Dang Hoang, each Vietnamese brand has its own identity and way of expression to create a difference compared to international brands.

Designer Cong Tri commented: “Young Vietnamese designers are talented and have a very methodical journey and strategy to build their brand, which is a positive sign for the entire Vietnamese fashion industry. There are many ways for Vietnamese designers to reach global customers, and social networks and media have also helped erase geographical distances. Being present at major fashion events is a special opportunity for Vietnamese fashion to make a good impression on the world.”

The unique designs, rich in Vietnamese culture, have demonstrated the unlimited creativity of Vietnamese designers stepping out into the world with much national pride. With the strong development of the fashion industry, fashion brands and designers will continue to develop and gradually affirm their position on the Vietnamese and international fashion map.

Thuy Duong