For some Vietnamese fashion designers, life doesn't always conform totheir dreams, designer Nhat Minh said at a recent forum held in HCMCity.
Hosted by Mot (Fashion) magazine, theforum attracted more than 30 veteran and young fashion designers whowork in Hanoi and HCM City .
Minh said thathe and his colleagues had worked hard for years to create new designs.
"We have worked very hard to develop our businessesand meet the higher demands of customers," Minh said.
Before opening his own shop, Minh studied at HCM City 's FineArts University and worked as an assistant for veteran designers atleading garment companies.
"Some of my friends and Ihave received prizes in competitions for young designers," said Minh,who earns nearly 200 million VND (10,000 USD) in turnover a month fromhis shop located in the city's shopping centre Zen Plaza .
"But behind the awards are the sweat and tears that we haveshed over our collections."
Minh believes that youngdesigners, particularly students, need to experience life beforeembarking on a design career.
Minh's oldercolleague, designer Minh Khoa said that faced with the lack of qualitydesign schools and teachers in Viet Nam , "you have to overcome manychallenges to become skilled designers."
"You needto discover your own niche on the fashion map," he said.
Khoa's road to achieving his dreams was not easy.
In 2003, he sold a wedding collection to an American businessman,becoming one of the country's first designers to export their designsoverseas.
He discovered what foreign customerswanted to see in new styles, particularly those created by Asiandesigners.
However, he failed to find an overseasagent who could help him develop his business.
Today, he owns two fashion boutiques downtown, offering specialcollections for both Vietnamese and foreign customers.
Although he has worked in fashion design for several years, he haddifficulties in researching, marketing and satisfying the demands of newmarkets.
"People prefer traditional Vietnamesefabrics, such as silk, brocade, taffeta and raw silk," said Minh Hanh,head of the city's Fashion Design Institute (Fadin).
"But if designers misuse these fabrics in their designs, they won't beable to inspire their customers."
As a pioneer inthe design field in Viet Nam , Hanh predicted that her youngercolleagues would find it difficult to satisfy the high expectations ofcustomers.
"They need to do a lot more research anddesign work."
After winning fame at home, Hanh beganexporting her designs, marketed under the MH brand, to Los Angelesin 2002.
Her designs combine traditional Vietnameseand Parisian styles and follow the latest trends in fashion.
Working closely with a representative of the Reper TroirsShowroom in Los Angeles , Hanh frequently sends new collections tothe dealer to market.
She has received many requestsfrom American buyers to make clothes, and has shown her collections atfashion festivals and fairs in France , Japan and Belgium ,selling many of her pieces to customers there.
Herstaff of several salespeople and seamstresses works in her shops in HaNoi and HCM City .
"There is strong competitionfor young designers. To be successful, youth need to establish theirown niche," said Hanh, adding that becoming a professional requiredyears
of serious study and application.
According to Hoang Quoc Long, a lecturer on fashion andtailoring at the Nguyen Huu Canh Vocational School , many localand foreign garment companies are in need of
designers, but there is a shortage of qualified people.
"Design is a new field in Viet Nam ," he said. "Many colleges anduniversities across the country are improving their facilities and humanresources to expand the field of
fashion design intheir programmes."
However, Long said that youngpeople must understand "the most important lesson is that no one issuccessful without both passion and extensive training"./.
Hosted by Mot (Fashion) magazine, theforum attracted more than 30 veteran and young fashion designers whowork in Hanoi and HCM City .
Minh said thathe and his colleagues had worked hard for years to create new designs.
"We have worked very hard to develop our businessesand meet the higher demands of customers," Minh said.
Before opening his own shop, Minh studied at HCM City 's FineArts University and worked as an assistant for veteran designers atleading garment companies.
"Some of my friends and Ihave received prizes in competitions for young designers," said Minh,who earns nearly 200 million VND (10,000 USD) in turnover a month fromhis shop located in the city's shopping centre Zen Plaza .
"But behind the awards are the sweat and tears that we haveshed over our collections."
Minh believes that youngdesigners, particularly students, need to experience life beforeembarking on a design career.
Minh's oldercolleague, designer Minh Khoa said that faced with the lack of qualitydesign schools and teachers in Viet Nam , "you have to overcome manychallenges to become skilled designers."
"You needto discover your own niche on the fashion map," he said.
Khoa's road to achieving his dreams was not easy.
In 2003, he sold a wedding collection to an American businessman,becoming one of the country's first designers to export their designsoverseas.
He discovered what foreign customerswanted to see in new styles, particularly those created by Asiandesigners.
However, he failed to find an overseasagent who could help him develop his business.
Today, he owns two fashion boutiques downtown, offering specialcollections for both Vietnamese and foreign customers.
Although he has worked in fashion design for several years, he haddifficulties in researching, marketing and satisfying the demands of newmarkets.
"People prefer traditional Vietnamesefabrics, such as silk, brocade, taffeta and raw silk," said Minh Hanh,head of the city's Fashion Design Institute (Fadin).
"But if designers misuse these fabrics in their designs, they won't beable to inspire their customers."
As a pioneer inthe design field in Viet Nam , Hanh predicted that her youngercolleagues would find it difficult to satisfy the high expectations ofcustomers.
"They need to do a lot more research anddesign work."
After winning fame at home, Hanh beganexporting her designs, marketed under the MH brand, to Los Angelesin 2002.
Her designs combine traditional Vietnameseand Parisian styles and follow the latest trends in fashion.
Working closely with a representative of the Reper TroirsShowroom in Los Angeles , Hanh frequently sends new collections tothe dealer to market.
She has received many requestsfrom American buyers to make clothes, and has shown her collections atfashion festivals and fairs in France , Japan and Belgium ,selling many of her pieces to customers there.
Herstaff of several salespeople and seamstresses works in her shops in HaNoi and HCM City .
"There is strong competitionfor young designers. To be successful, youth need to establish theirown niche," said Hanh, adding that becoming a professional requiredyears
of serious study and application.
According to Hoang Quoc Long, a lecturer on fashion andtailoring at the Nguyen Huu Canh Vocational School , many localand foreign garment companies are in need of
designers, but there is a shortage of qualified people.
"Design is a new field in Viet Nam ," he said. "Many colleges anduniversities across the country are improving their facilities and humanresources to expand the field of
fashion design intheir programmes."
However, Long said that youngpeople must understand "the most important lesson is that no one issuccessful without both passion and extensive training"./.
