Vietnam Fashion Week kicked off on Dec. 6 night at the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, with 19 collections (600 designs) by veteran and emerging designers to be shown during the week.

"The trend of Spring and Summer 2013 will be gentle and peaceful," said designer Minh Hanh.

Young designers have made clothes that were highly practical. For example, designer Ta Linh would make his debut with a collection of garments from recycled materials.

A recent graduate of the Costume Design Department of the Cinema and Theatre College , Linh said his collection of 15 designs would be mixed and matched at the show.

"The collection by Linh is very flexible," Hanh said. "The designs can be used by wearers to match appropriate clothing."

Others to be paraded this week, include Viet Thang Garments, noted for its design collections for young people, which will show works by four designers.

And on Dec. 8, a contribution by Spanish designer Diego Cortizas will be featured.

The first Vietnam Fashion Week was held in 1998 and has since become the main annual event for the Vietnamese fashion industry.-VNA