As part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, the “Fashion and Heritage” panel discussion took place on the morning of November 21 at the Gia Lam Locomotive Factory.
Speakers shared their insights at the panel discussion.
The event, organized by the Vietnam Fashion Forum under the guidance of Master Nguyen Tri Dung, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Head of the Fashion Design Department at the Hanoi Architectural University, featured speakers such as Master, Designer Le Ha – a lecturer in the school of interdisciplinary studies at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The event also saw the active participation of many young designers, lecturers, and fashion design students from various universities, contributing their perspectives to the panel discussion.
According to Master Nguyen Tri Dung, Vietnamese fashion is deeply invested in the values of traditional culture. This theme has been deliberately incorporated into the training process of fashion design majors in various institutions, serving as inspiration for many students to explore and create collections with historical and traditional cultural imprints.
Designer Le Ha shared insights, highlighting the recent growing interest in integrating heritage into fashion design. State policies have facilitated the development of culture, positioning it at the core and utilizing it as a resource for artistic endeavors. Conversely, artistic expression has played a role in conserving and presenting culture to the world, especially in the era of globalization.
Designer Le Ha further emphasized that the Vietnamese fashion market faces intense competition due to the rising presence of foreign brands, which often incorporate indigenous cultural elements into their designs. In this context, leveraging the unique cultural identity of Vietnamese fashion becomes a distinct advantage. Utilizing cultural resources to refresh fashion products not only contributes to innovation but also preserves and enhances the value of traditional Vietnamese culture.
Overview of the panel discussion
During the panel discussion, various topics such as the incorporation of culture into fashion and the exploration of heritage in art were extensively discussed, eliciting numerous shared opinions. Notably, attendees had the opportunity to witness presentations of collections by young designers and students from universities such as Hoa Binh University and the University of Industry and Textiles. They attentively listened to the ideas and creative processes of these emerging designers. One notable contribution came from the young designer Ha Vy from Hoa Binh University, who shared insights into the inspiration and realization of her collection derived from the short story “Silent Sa Pa” by Nguyen Thanh Long. With this collection, Ha Vy transformed the silent beauty of laborers into a stylistic direction while depicting the highland landscape through intricate details and embellishments on the garments. Another young designer, Dao Hong Nhung, drew inspiration from Van Gogh’s painting heritage to complete her graduation collection. Throughout the creative process, she contemplated the integration of Vietnamese culture into a collection inspired by this foreign artist.
With a multitude of topics under discussion, the panel discussion provided valuable insights into the research and application of beauty and heritage values in fashion creations. It sparked cultural inspiration for the new generation of designers. However, according to designer Le Ha, when incorporating heritage into products, designers must avoid appropriation and distortion, preserving the authenticity of traditional values. The most appropriate approach is to always honor the artisans and the cultural foundation that inspired their work.
In addition to the “Fashion and Heritage” panel discussion, on the evening of November 19, at the Gia Lam Locomotive Factory, the Vietnam Fashion Forum also organized the fashion show “Hanoi Fashion Journey.” These activities significantly contributed to attracting a large audience from the capital, particularly the younger demographic, to the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023.
Reporter