Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns

An exhibition highlighting 200 sets of ao dai (Vietnam's traditional gowns) presented by 20 famous Vietnamese and foreign designers is underway at the Vietnam Women's Museum in Hanoi, featuring the country's natural and cultural heritages.
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 1The exhibition, themed 'ao dai tren con duong di san' (Ao Dai on the Heritage Path), brings viewers to many natural and cultural heritages through different patterns highlighting many aspects of life, cultural heritages and beliefs. The collections of ao dai were made from diverse materials, contributing to bringing art and traditional features closer to the public. Visitors to the exhibition will have a chance to learn more about the development history and the process of making ao dai, as well as their materials of the costume. 'Quang Ninh sail', 'Ha Long Bay, 'Brocade of Tay and Dao ethnic groups', 'Phong Nha-Ke Bang', and 'Yen Tu bamboo forest' are drawn on ao dai. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 2The organising board introduces designers. The event attracts the participation of many famous designers of Vietnam, such as Minh Hanh, Chula, Ngoc Han, and Cao Minh Tien. Addressing the event, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Ton Ngoc Anh expressed her impression on the creativity of the designers and the beauty of the land and people of Vietnam that is depicted in the ao dai designs. Designer Laura Fontan said that ao dai has connected her to Vietnam over the past 17 years. In this exhibition, the Spanish designer brings traditional ao dai designs made of the traditional material of Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 3The event attracts the participation of many famous designers from Vietnam. Visitors to the exhibition have a chance to learn more about the development history as well as the process of making ao dai. On the occasion, visitors can also exchange their views with famous ao dai designers, including Minh Hanh, Ngoc Han and Laura Fontan, a Spanish who has a special love for ao dai and Vietnamese culture. Ao dai, the traditional costume of Vietnam, which is familiar among international friends, has a long history of development. Ao dai is diverse in design and material that vary in different regions. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 4Ao dai has been made default by the community as a typical costume representing Vietnamese culture. The phrase 'ao dai' has no equivalent meaning in popular languages like English. This means that the international community has automatically considered this kind of costume a traditional costume of Vietnam. At present, ao dai has not had a title corresponding to its value through legal documents and decisions. That story has always been 'reheated' again whenever the community found a few cases of ao dai of other origins at museums and fashion runways worldwide. Whether a formal uniform (used in State and diplomatic ceremonies) or as national apparel, ao dai is always the first name mentioned by the public. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 5An overview of the exhibition. The exhibition, themed 'Ao Dai on the Heritage Path', is part of the Vietnam Women's Museum's efforts to preserve and promote the values of ao dai and bring Vietnamese heritages closer to the community. In addition to the country's natural and cultural heritages, the event also features the beauty of people who are quietly contributing efforts to bringing peaceful life to everyone through the collections of ao dai designs such as 'Navy', 'Lights in the night, 'Soldiers helping the people’ and 'Hope'. The highlight of ao dai designs is that the designers use Vietnamese silk and ramie fibre. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 6Designer Ngoc Han, Miss Vietnam 2010, learns the silkworm incubation process. In Vietnam, silk has been considered the quintessence of Vietnamese identity for a long time. Silk fabric has a shiny, light, but also very durable beauty. It quickly became one of the most premium items available today. Vietnam has brought its silk to the world through clothes, accessories, scarves, and ties to affirm the position of high-class Vietnamese fabric. It is proud to own a product imbued with the quintessence of Vietnamese national identity with a meticulous, thorough, and wonderful production process. People often prefer silk colours dyed from natural materials such as bark, leaves, and brown tubers. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 7Ao dai, the traditional costume of Vietnam, which is familiar among international friends, has a long history of development. The collections of ao dai were made from diverse materials, contributing to bringing art and traditional features closer to the public. Through artistic creations, the enthusiastic designers wished to contribute to 'identifying' ao dai as an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, conveying that wherever it appears, the Vietnamese traditional long dress will not be confused with any other outfit in the world. Visitors to the exhibition will have a chance to learn more about the development history and the process of making ao dai, as well as the materials of the costume. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Contemplating Vietnam's natural, cultural heritages on traditional gowns ảnh 8The exhibition also introduces silkworm incubation and silk weaving. Coming to the event, visitors can exchange views with famous ao dai designers, including Minh Hanh, Ngoc Han and Laura Fontan, a Spanish who has a special love for ao dai and Vietnamese culture. Laura Fontan, the wife of late designer Diego Chula, said that ao dai has connected her to Vietnam over the past 17 years. In this exhibition, the Spanish designer brings traditional ao dai designs made of the traditional material of Vietnam. The show will remain open to visitors until the end of August 29. After the event, the ao dai designs will be presented to the museum for continuous exhibition. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
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