Bringing ethnic minority fashion to the international stage.

(PLVN) - The vast and unique cultural heritage of 54 ethnic groups has shaped the identity of Vietnamese culture, creating distinct characteristics, imprints, and profound highlights. This is a source of inspiration for many Vietnamese fashion designers to create unique and internationally acclaimed outfits.

The mark of Vietnamese fashion

In reality, Vietnam has great potential to promote its indigenous cultural beauty. With 54 ethnic groups living together throughout Vietnam, from North to South, each with its own distinct culture in the Northwest, Central Highlands, and Southwest regions, each has developed its own unique identity throughout its history, enriching Vietnamese culture.

This is also a material that Vietnamese fashion can explore and create unique outfits that reach world-class standards. In 2018, at the Miss Tourism International competition, beauty queen Dieu Linh chose the traditional costume of the Hmong people. This was also the first time that the culture of the Hmong ethnic group was introduced by a Vietnamese beauty queen at an international competition.

One of the key factors contributing to Bao Ngoc's historic victory at Miss Intercontinental 2022 was undoubtedly her "Red Dao Girl" costume. With its characteristic red, yellow, and green colors, and the striking detail of the skirt resembling a vibrant fan, Bao Ngoc confidently showcased her ethnic identity on the international stage. The "Red Dao Girl" costume was inspired by the wedding attire of Red Dao women, featuring distinctive brocade patterns.

Also in 2022, Vietnamese traditional costumes shone at the Bangkok Kids International Fashion Week in Bangkok. Bangkok Kids International Fashion Week is known as an international fashion event that brings together many famous fashion houses from around the world and is eagerly awaited by fashion enthusiasts every year.

The "Going to the Market" collection, featuring 12 designs inspired by the cultures of ethnic groups such as the Ha Nhi, Si La, Tay, Pa Then, Red Dao, Thai, La Hu, and Mong, presents a fresh and impressive image of Vietnamese traditional clothing to the international public. The Vietnamese designs have been well-received by international friends and have garnered a shower of praise.

In 2024, the " Lao Cai Brocade Festival - Cultural Colors," themed "Sa Pa - Brocade of the Misty Land," became a platform for Tay ethnic designer Vu Thao Giang to tell the story of her Tay people through brocade.

The collection, titled "Mother's Colors," utilized indigo fabrics and brocade hues deeply rooted in the designer's memories. The collection left a beautiful impression of Vietnamese fashion on international friends during the Festival week in Lao Cai.

Leveraging the diversity of national culture

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong from the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism (VICAST), Vietnam has the advantage of diverse national identities. Each ethnic group has its own distinct identity, with unique traditional costumes. Vietnamese people have a visual sense of perception and good color coordination skills, which is one of the reasons why Vietnamese fashion has a strong potential for development.

Fashion is a highly profitable industry in Vietnam with the potential to expand internationally. This is especially true for unique designs made from brocade, silk, lotus silk, and other fabrics. Furthermore, the fashion and handicraft industries create jobs for many people, including disadvantaged groups such as women, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

However, to effectively incorporate national cultural elements into fashion designs, relying solely on the craftsmanship, shapes, and colors of the traditional costumes of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups is insufficient to create unique designs. Designers utilize compelling cultural narratives, blending tradition and modernity to breathe life into their collections.

Cultural narratives can be expanded beyond just images of mothers and children from ethnic minorities. They can encompass festivals, specialties, dishes, legends, and epics of these ethnic groups. For example, the "Banh Tet" costume worn by Miss Kim Dung at Miss Universe 2021 garnered significant international acclaim for showcasing a distinctly Vietnamese dish.

Most recently, at the Paris Fashion Air show during Paris Fashion Week 2025, a young Vietnamese designer presented a fashion collection celebrating traditional beauty. He spent many years studying and working in Germany. His debut collection at the fashion week was inspired by various elements of Vietnamese folk culture, such as conical hats, three-tiered hats, woven bamboo and rattan bags, and Dong Ho folk painting motifs.

Huong Ngoc

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dua-thoi-trang-dan-toc-thieu-so-ra-san-dien-quoc-te-post545619.html