Three leading designers of Vietnam's premier fashion companies and 20 freelance designers will take part in Vietnam Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2011 at the French Consulate in HCM City today andon Dec. 3-4.

The catwalk event will feature nearly 1,000 designs made with high-quality materials, including fabrics in bright colours as well as checked and striped patterns.

This year, designers will use Vietnamese materials like silk, crocodile and python leather and gems for their apparel and accessories.

The event is organised by the consulate, the Vietnam National Textile and Garment group (Vinatex), the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), and the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso).

The two-day fair is an opportunity to mark Viet Nam's entry into the global fashion industry, and change the way of doing business from cut-and-make to original designs by manufacturers.

"The event will prove that the Vietnam industry in recent years has developed despite the economic crisis," said Vinatex vice chairman Le Trung Hai. "The industry is seeing more and more young designers with creative designs."

The Viet Thang Textile Company has used 3D technology in creating their new collection designed by Van Khoa, Bich Ha and Hong Vuong, who entered the industry after participating in the fashion contest Vietnam Collection Grand Prix.

The two-day event will also feature designs by popular, more established designers, Minh Hanh and Dang Khoa, and young designers like Van Vo, Tuan Huy, Hien Le and Hai Long.

Hanh, director of fashion house Fadin, said Viet Thang and designers have worked with local accessory makers like VITCO Shoes, Ton Phat Crocodile Leather and Phuc Khanh Jewelry to use luxurious materials like crocodile and python leather and precious gems to create new styles for the spring-summer collection.

More than 40 models from leading fashion agencies, including New Talent in Ha Noi and HCM City, will participate in the event, as will make-up artist Dung Phan and his staff./.