Stylish travelers are flocking to the country’s capital to find chic, under-the-radar brands, writes Lucy Sexton for Harper’s Bazaar
Our work was recently featured alongside other up and coming Hanoi brands in a Harper’s Bazaar piece titled “Why Hanoi is the Paris of Vietnam”. The article discusses recent developments to Hanoi’s fashion scene and why “stylish travellers are flocking to the country’s capital to find chic, under-the-radar brands”.
Harper’s highlights the burgeoning fashion scene in Vietnam’s capital. The scene is developing as a new generation of designers establish their point of view as creatives. Harper’s observes, “Hanoi is no substitute for the couture icons of Paris or Milan, but neither is it trying to be—part of the reason Hanoi is so charmingly raw and more worthy of our wallet’s attention than other, well-trodden fashion capitals.” – Harper’s Bazaar
Indigo quilt jacket by Kilomet109 – photo by Aaron Joel Santos
“Vu Thao is one designer who has made a name for herself with Kilomet109, an eco-friendly brand committed to preserving Vietnam’s rich fashion and textile heritage. Thao’s silk paisley one-pieces, voile camisoles, quilted indigo jackets, hemp frocks, and ’70s inspired high-waisted bell-bottoms are equal parts statement pieces and great basics.” – Harper’s Bazaar
Hanoi’s growing reputation is also a reflection of local designers becoming more confident in their approach and developing their brand audiences globally. Included in that is a growing movement to take advantage of Vietnam’s rich craft history to produce fashion that is distinct, well made, and forward looking.
“People are looking for something unique, valuable,” Thao says. “Value is not superficial, it’s the culture behind it, the story behind it, the people behind it, the environmental issues behind it.” Indeed, if one ascribes to the traditional definition of couture as custom, hand-stitched garments, then Thao is the couturest of couture in Hanoi. Her connection with the clothes from cotton seedlings to shoulder-shaped wood hangers informs the way she cuts and drapes her pieces, often adding off kilter embellishments like an exposed plastic zipper.” – Harper’s Bazaar
Indigo dyed men’s linen shirt – SEEDS collection 2015
“Value is not superficial, it’s the culture behind it, the story behind it, the people behind it, the environmental issues behind it,” says Thao.
The recognition by international media to the flourishing fashion scene is an important and welcome development for Vietnamese designers. But what this really means is that we have much more work to do.
It was an honor to be featured alongside our friends and Hanoi fashion colleagues. We hope that this marks just the beginning. Stay tuned….
