Who is the HUTECH male student who designed the unique '1,2,3 cheers' costume?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Despite not being a fashion student, Duc Luong has proven his design talent in numerous competitions. Recently, the male student won the "Inspirational Outfit" award at "Miss Grand Vietnam 2023".

Inspired by the distinctive wedding traditions of the Mekong Delta region, particularly the familiar "1, 2, 3 cheers!" greeting, "Happy Wedding Day in Spring" was one of the standout outfits at the Miss Grand Vietnam 2022 pageant. This creation was made by Nguyen Duc Luong (born 2000, Ho Chi Minh City) – a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH). The performance not only garnered attention and admiration from the online community but also showcased the unique "1, 2, 3 cheers!" tradition of Vietnamese people to international visitors. "I designed this outfit with the desire to bring a lively and joyful atmosphere and introduce the cultural traditions of the Mekong Delta to international friends," Duc Luong shared with a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper.

The moment of toasting to a wedding was reenacted right on the stage of the "Miss Grand Peace 2022" competition, exciting the audience.

Wanting to become a designer to make a traditional Vietnamese dress (áo dài) as a gift for his mother , Duc Luong's uncle is an art teacher, so the young man received artistic training from a young age. His friendship with paintbrushes helped him realize he had an artistic "bloodline" and a talent for painting. His first sketches were of rice fields in his hometown, then later of áo dài dresses and conical hats… Gradually, he developed a love for things familiar to Vietnamese people, forming a passion for traditional culture. Knowing their son loved to paint, Duc Luong's family always supported and encouraged him, but they couldn't afford to send him to art classes. Understanding his parents' hardships, the young man didn't dare ask for anything and always diligently honed his painting skills using knowledge he gathered online. Back then, Luong's family wasn't well-off, so whenever his mother attended meetings or ceremonies, she only had one worn-out áo dài to wear. Seeing his mother like that, the young man felt a pang of sadness and longed to be able to make an áo dài for her with his own hands. "From that moment, I was determined to nurture my dream of becoming a fashion designer. I still remember when I sewed my first ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) as a gift for my mother; she loved it so much, she immediately took it and tried it on, then carefully put it away. Honestly, I've never seen my mother cherish an item so much," the young man confided.

Duc Luong taught himself and learned the knowledge to pursue his passion for fashion.

Duc Luong used to be a shy boy, afraid to express himself and often facing many psychological problems. Thanks to the support and encouragement of family and friends, he was ready to step out of his comfort zone to prove his abilities. At the age of 21, the HUTECH student registered to participate in the National Costume Design Competition at the Miss Transgender Vietnam 2021 pageant. Trying his hand at such a large competition for the first time, he couldn't help but feel anxious and scared. However, the fear of missing the opportunity was even greater, so he always told himself he had to do his best so that he wouldn't regret it later. At that time, Luong and his best friend came up with the idea for the costume "Toad Sues Heaven." This was the passion of the two students, conveying a message of courage while expressing the desire for equality and fairness for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. When he learned that he made it into the top 10 national costumes in the competition, Duc Luong felt emotional. Even though he wasn't selected to advance, he didn't see it as a failure. For the student, this was a motivation to try harder and improve in future projects.

"The Toad Sues Heaven" is the design that this male student from HUTECH is most proud of.

Incorporating Traditional Beauty into Design: The beauty of Vietnamese culture is an endless source of inspiration for Duc Luong every time he puts pen to paper to design. It's not from grand things, but from people and everyday activities that he derives unique ideas. For each product, the student develops ideas, then searches for historical documents, carefully researching characteristic national traditions suitable for incorporating into performance costumes. He skillfully conveys profound stories and messages in each of his designs. "People often ask me why I only design traditional costumes and don't try something newer. In my opinion, culture is the past, present, and future; it's not just tradition but also carries a modern spirit. Therefore, as long as culture continues, I will continue to honor these values," he shared.

Duc Luong always meticulously perfects his works, starting from the initial sketches.

Besides "Happy Wedding Day in Spring," other designs such as "Toad Sues Heaven," "Dancing Drum," and "Moon-Shattering Lion Cat" have helped Duc Luong gradually gain recognition and praise from many in the industry. Regarding the current trend of modernizing traditional costumes, the student said that the fashion industry demands constant creativity from designers. However, with traditional costumes in particular, he never advocates or condemns unconventional approaches that make cultural values ​​seem offensive. "I choose to transform them in moderation to preserve the traditional essence and the spirit I want to convey," the young man shared. The biggest challenge is finances. Passionate about design since childhood, but currently a student in the service sector, Duc Luong said he always aspired to study fashion. However, due to financial constraints, he chose Hotel Management to ensure greater financial security and a better future for himself and his family. "My parents had to borrow a large sum of money from the bank so I could continue my university studies," the young man recounted. Besides that, he also had a part-time job with just enough income to cover his costume design expenses. Busy with various jobs, he didn't have much time to take care of himself. Getting enough sleep gradually became a luxury for this Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) young man. Luong recalled his mother's words with a lump in his throat: "My mother said I could do whatever I wanted, and I should always strive for success, but she always reminded me not to forget myself while chasing opportunities."

In addition to his design award, Duc Luong has an impressive academic record and is actively involved in extracurricular activities.

To create a complete work, both visually and in terms of content, Duc Luong has to invest a lot of time and effort. Each set usually takes more than 6 months, with some pieces even being sketched 4-5 years ago. The biggest difficulty the male student faces is his limited finances. The average cost for a designed costume is not fixed, usually ranging from a few million to tens of millions of VND. That's not a small amount for a student like him, but it's not too much for the purpose of "reviving" national cultural values. "For each design, I usually reuse beads, sequins, sewing materials… When the competition or performance ends, I always stay behind to collect the dropped accessories. To maintain my love for the profession, finances are extremely important," he said.

HUTECH male student receives "Inspiring Costume" award at the National Costume Contest "Miss Grand Vietnam 2023".

When asked about the pressures of being a new-generation designer, Duc Luong said that this is a great opportunity for development but also means that competition will become stronger. "Personally, I think it's a challenge I have to overcome to stand firm in the profession. Instead of being afraid, I hone my skills and experiment to constantly reinvent myself," he expressed. Sharing his future aspirations, Luong plans to open a showroom showcasing traditional Vietnamese ao dai (long dress) to promote national culture to international friends. ( Photo: Provided by the artist )