With Fashion Month behind us, world-renowned designers including Dolce & Gabbana and Versace presented their latest collections to the entire world. As a Vietnamese American, what was noticeably missing to me were runway designs created by Vietnamese fashion designers. The following are Vietnamese designers I believe have the potential to become big names in mainstream fashion.
Chloe Dao (Houston, Texas)
After winning season two of Project Runway, the name Chloe Dao was launched into international fame. Dao graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and worked under numerous fashion designers before opening her own boutique, Lot 8. She works with prints and bold colors, which makes her designs immediately eye-catching. Her clothes have a combination of playfulness and ease that fits the everyday woman, flattering different body types. Aside from designing for her own collection and running her boutique, Dao also sells apparels and accessories through her wholesale line, DAO Chloe DAO. Dao was a judge on the first season of Project Runway Vietnam, a spokesperson for Dove, and launched a collection on QVC.
Thai Nguyen (Huntington Beach, California)
If you are familiar with the popular Vietnamese variety show Paris by Night, then you might recognize this name,Thai Nguyen . He is a Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising graduate and worked as a designer for BCBG Max Azria. Currently, Nguyen is a designer and stylist for Thuy Nga’s Paris by Night, the host of a Weekly Style segment on Vietface TV, and has his own line named Thai Nguyen Atelier. His designs are handmade with the finest textiles influenced by both Western and Eastern fashion, a combination which makes for beautiful and unique pieces. His creations have been worn by many big-name celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Adriana Lima and Ariana Grande.
Khanh Nguyen (Dallas, Texas)
Khanh Nguyen is the creator and designer of Nha Khanh label. After receiving her fashion design degree from the University of North Texas, Nguyen interned at some of the world’s leading fashion houses in Paris like Jean Paul Gauthier and Nina Ricci. Nguyen’s designs have classic silhouettes yet they exhibit a sophisticated and modern vibe. Her use of lace in many of her designs adds a touch of femininity and makes her simple designs more ethereal. Her creations frequently appear on the red carpet and have been worn by Kim Kardashian, Giuliana Rancic, and Zendaya Coleman. The Nha Khanh label has a ready-to-wear collection as well as custom atelier services and can be found at retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Rent the Runway, a dress rental service.
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Theresa Ngo
Contributor
Theresa is currently a biology student at the University of San Francisco. She is interested in fashion and hopes to share her thoughts on the current fashion industry as well as Vietnamese involvement in the industry through her stories. As a Vietnamese-American, Theresa has a strong love for the Vietnamese culture and wants to contribute to its preservation for future generations here and abroad.