Admire the exquisite Zèng A Lưới embroidery on the Huế ao dai.

Using the traditional fabric of the Ta Oi ethnic group in the mountainous A Luoi region (Hue City), designer Viet Bao has breathed contemporary life into Hue's ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), creating a highlight for the exhibition 'Hue Heritage - Convergence and Dissemination' currently taking place in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper , designer Viet Bao said that within the framework of the exhibition " Hue Heritage - Convergence and Dissemination" (taking place from May 15-30) at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, he brought about 50 ao dai designs for presentation and display. Notably, many of the men's and women's ao dai designs utilize zèng fabric and patterns, a traditional brocade fabric characteristic of the Ta Oi people in A Luoi.

Unique Zèng patterns on the traditional Ao Dai dress of Hue.

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According to designer Viet Bao, this collection not only celebrates the beauty of Hue's ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) but also contributes to bringing the traditional zèng weaving craft of the highland people closer to the younger generation through contemporary fashion .

"Bringing zeng fabric onto the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) is my way of telling the story of Hue's culture, from the mountainous A Luoi region to the royal court and contemporary life," designer Viet Bao shared.

According to him, the most important thing when applying traditional materials to modern fashion is to preserve the original spirit of the weaving craft. Therefore, he retains many of the characteristic colors, patterns, and handcrafted techniques of the Ta Oi people in each design, instead of drastically modernizing them.

Designer Viet Bao

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"Zèng fabric is already beautiful and has its own unique character. I just want the áo dài to become a space where that material can be seen in a newer, more accessible way to young people," he said.

In the exhibition space co-organized by the Hue Fine Arts Museum, many designs of Nhat Binh dresses, five-panel ao dai dresses, and ao dai dresses incorporating A Luoi zèng motifs are displayed alongside sketches of Hue's heritage. The designs draw inspiration from court art, images of the ancient capital, and the cultural life of Hue, aiming to create a meeting point between traditional heritage and modern creativity.

Designer Viet Bao's ao dai designs combine Hue imperial court art motifs, sketches of the ancient capital, and the brocade fabric of the Ta Oi ethnic group in A Luoi.

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The Zèng weaving craft of the Ta Oi people in A Luoi has long been considered one of the unique cultural heritages of the highlands of Hue. Unlike many traditional brocade fabrics, Zèng stands out for its technique of attaching beads directly to the fabric during the weaving process, creating patterns that bear the distinct mark of the mountains, forests, and community life. Each Zèng piece, therefore, is not only a handcrafted product but also preserves aesthetic concepts, beliefs, and cultural memories passed down through generations.

With its unique cultural value, the A Lưới zèng weaving craft has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In recent years, zèng fabric has gradually moved beyond the traditional craft village to appear in fashion, tourism , and contemporary cultural promotion activities.

A distinctive feature of the traditional Hue ao dai designed by Viet Bao is the combination with zeng fabric or printed zeng patterns.

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Designer Viet Bao is one of those who persistently pursue a creative direction connected with traditional Vietnamese culture and handicrafts. In many of his collections, he chooses to explore the beauty of A Luoi zèng fabric, combined with Hue imperial court art to create designs that bear a strong local imprint. Through the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), the designer hopes to bring traditional values ​​closer to the younger public through the language of contemporary fashion.

The simple yet distinctive zèng patterns of the Ta Oi people become special when incorporated into the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress).

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A unique combination of original zèng fabric with beads and fabric printed with images of Hue's heritage.

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Originating from the remote mountainous region of A Lưới, the Tà Ôi people's zèng (traditional Vietnamese folk music) has appeared in Ho Chi Minh City, creating a fascinating spectacle for viewers.

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The intangible heritage of Zèng weaving is celebrated alongside another heritage of Hue - the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress).

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Four ao dai designs made from traditional zèng fabric contribute to telling the story of Hue culture through the language of contemporary fashion.

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Designer Viet Bao's ao dai collection combines A Luoi zeng fabric with inspiration from Hue's imperial court art and sketches of the ancient capital.

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The ao dai dresses, made from A Luoi zèng fabric by designer Viet Bao, stand out with the characteristic black, red, and white colors of the Ta Oi ethnic group's brocade.

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The vibrant colors of the Central Highlands in the South

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In addition to showcasing brocade ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), designer Viet Bao and the Hue Museum of Fine Arts also introduced the Zèng weaving craft at the exhibition.

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Zèng was introduced to the general public.

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Traditional Zèng textiles appear alongside ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) and sketches, creating an atmosphere rich in Hue's heritage.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngam-zeng-a-luoi-thang-hoa-tren-ta-ao-dai-hue-185260515215143567.htm