Aesthetic cultural exchanges on the Vietnamese runway

The third performance night of Vietnam International Fashion Week Fall /Winter 2025, at Quan Ngua Sports Palace (Hanoi) last night, November 14, continued to bring the audience into the world of fashion rich in identity through unique designs and cultural stories, highlighted by creations from the Philippines and Malaysia.

The pulse of fashion movements

Last night, designer Francis Libiran (Philippines) returned to the Vietnamese catwalk this fashion season with his sophisticated architectural thinking and romantic design language – the elements that have made his name on the Asian fashion map.

The “Visions ” collection is a manifesto where movement becomes art, where each design is like an emotional beat. Francis Libiran creates an aesthetic dialogue between Filipino craftsmanship and contemporary architectural thinking. The geometric shapes are skillfully restrained, leaving space for materials and light to create a soft look with each step of the model.

Using high-quality fabrics, Francis Libiran exploits the contrast between structure and flexibility, combined with a color palette of metallic silver, champagne gold, sapphire blue... to evoke the feeling that each design is "breathing" and alive right on stage.

The focus is on designs with a distinctive architectural spirit, expressed through bold 3D structures, sculptural butterfly sleeves and shimmering metallic hand-weaving techniques. In addition, the Collection extends the range of inspiration to integrate with common stories of Southeast Asia: the sharp cuts of Singapore, the natural grace of Indonesia, and the decorative grace of Malaysia.

Francis Libiran’s opening and closing designs showcased a contrast of class through the use of sophisticated craftsmanship. The Face winner Huynh Tu Anh opened the show with a modern, individual white mini dress. The highlight was the large, elaborately embellished puffed shoulders, combined with zipper details and unique diamond-patterned tights, creating a bold, bold and trendy look.

The show ended with a stunning strapless evening gown, a gradient of bronze and sparkling black, and an intricately twisted pleated skirt. The classic, sophisticated, elegant, and powerful look left a lasting impression and ended the show with a beautiful feeling.

When fashion connects cultures

Inspired by the cultural exchange in the region, BEHATI returns to the Vietnamese catwalk to introduce a new collection called “Cham.” Meaning a fusion, “Cham” blends elements of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Borneo cultures, thereby sketching a modern look for the traditional Baju costume of Malaysia.

Inspired by the multi-ethnic marriages and the simple yet regal beauty of Kampung life, the collection aims to express a subtle tribute to the spirit of connection and harmony of the ASEAN region.

With “Cham,” BEHATI takes viewers into a world where tradition is not only preserved but also reborn in the spirit of the times. With a cultural journey stretching from Malaysia to Hanoi, “Cham” skillfully weaves images of Ao Dai, Sarong, Sherwani and Kebaya, transforming heritage into a contemporary vision of unity, identity and modernity.

Notably, this is also the first time in BEHATI's creative journey that materials become a bridge between cultures, between memories and the future, between the delicate softness of Vietnam and the vibrant diversity of Malaysia.

Malaysian designers have reinterpreted the country’s signature Peranakan cuts in a contemporary style, sending a “love letter” to pay tribute to Vietnam. In particular, the brand also took the opportunity to express the subtle connection between the two countries through the “BEHATI version of Ao Dai,” which both honors tradition and breathes modernity into it.

Opening the collection, The Face Vietnam Champion Huynh Tu Anh performed a captivating dance, leading the audience into a space filled with traditional Malaysian culture. Not only opening the cultural story with a unique performance, “Cham” also surprised with sophisticated cross-dressing costumes, combining “Ao Dai” with many layers, conical hats and straw shoes, creating an overall look that is both unique and emotional.

Not stopping there, Huynh Tu Anh continued to be “chosen” for the closing position, performing a brilliant red outfit with sophisticated combinations, adding tribal motifs of pua kumbu, batik, songket, and Sarawak fabric. The combination of multiple materials recreates the spirit of cultural harmony – the message that the designers wanted to convey through the intersection of many ethnicities to reflect Malaysia’s diverse community.

It can be said that with "Cham," BEHATI has brought an artistic journey where tradition is revived, identity is honored and friendship between two countries is "woven" through the language of fashion./.