Vietnam International Fashion Week 2022: The dance of scraps

After two years of being held during a stressful epidemic period, this year’s event – from May 26 to 29 – takes place in the context of the “new normal”. No more body temperature monitors, masks or negative results confirmation tables, fashion lovers comfortably mingle on the red carpet and catwalk.

With the theme “ReFashion”, the week captivated the audience with trendy designs using recycled materials. sustainable fashion, into the general flow of the global fashion village. From there, the event conveys the message: limiting the production of fast fashion to protect the environment, avoiding waste and emissions, and directing people to a thrifty, healthy lifestyle, prioritizing quality and health.

Designers like Vo Cong Khanh, Adrian Anh Tuan, Royal familyHoang Minh Ha, Ly Giam Tien, Nguyen Tien Truyen… using recycled fabrics from oyster shells, lotus fibers, coffee grounds… to create many collections of applications or parties. Oyster shell fabric is created by a combination of recycled plastic bottles and sea oyster shells, which are moisture-wicking, heat-permeable, breathable, quick-drying, and anti-static. Meanwhile, the fabric from coffee grounds is light, super cool, optimal body deodorization, UV protection up to 98%.

Vo Cong Khanh talked about the material creation process: “Oyster shells are collected from the farm, then dried, ground into powder, and rolled into small balls like polyester. The balls are melted to create fibers, spinning and weaving into fabric.To make coffee fabric, you have to go through five stages.The processed coffee is roasted above 200°C. After high-temperature roasting, the beans are ground into a powdered form. fine. Bring this powder to mix with polymer, then the powder will stick to the surface of the polymer fiber, turn into yarn. Finally, use this fiber to weave into fabric.”

Around the world, in the Spring Summer 2022 fashion season, many brands also use natural or recycled materials. Stella McCartney pioneered leather bags using grape waste in wineries in Italy. Chloé collaborates with Gee’s Bend Quilters – a small community of black women in Alabama, producing clothes from cotton blankets and unused fabric. Diesel launches its first products made from fully recycled denim, cotton and elastane, without using water in the dyeing process. Balenciaga presents leather jacket made from mycelium. Atlein makes shirts out of Nespresso capsules. Vogue sustainable development is the future trend of fashion.

The week also shows the investment of the organizers. The stage is inspired by the world’s major fashion boulevards in Paris, New York, Milan or London. The LED screens bring images of streets and shops full of lights, showing the vibrant village life again. Three hours before the opening time, the crew was still busy editing the stage lighting and sound. The organizers only have two weeks to complete all stages with 100 employees. The representative of the week said that many people are exhausted because they work until 3 hours to rest. In addition, the red carpet invests in many shooting areas with different ideas, helping young people to unleash their creativity.

Four shows with 1,000 costumes focusing on fashion, no tricks, pulled the majority of the audience to linger until the last minute. Audience member Minh Trang (20 years old, Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts) said that she was impressed with the collection of Adiran Anh Tuan and Linh San with outstanding color patches and modestly sexy cuts. She said: “This week has a very good message, helping future designers to learn and change their thinking about fashion to protect the environment.” Hoang Quan (25 years old, architect, Ho Chi Minh City) loves Vo Cong Khanh’s designs because of the visually stimulating textured gameplay. “I went to see all four nights, not missing a show because it’s been too long since I felt like going to see fashion without having to worry about the epidemic,” he said.

The theme is trending, the quality of the collection is relatively uniform, but the week is incomplete because of the catwalks that are out of place, the organization stage is still lengthy.

Before the show took place, every day the models practiced and assembled the stage, but on the stage many people still strayed from the music, lacked emotion, erratic performance. Some people said that the unpleasant weather and the effects of Covid-19 made their health worse. Some have not performed for a long time, so they are matched.

Familiar names like Thanh Hang, Vo Hoang Yen… continued to perform in the vedette position after several seasons of participation. In the past two years, due to the epidemic, contests to find talented models had to be canceled, causing the fashion village to lack new elements. Audience Mai Anh (30 years old, business, HCMC) commented: “I think long-time models have their own charms and performances, but to be more excited, young models are needed, new to the world. different catwalk ways”.

Hoang Thuy catwalk at Hoang Hai show

Just like every year, the part of speeches, giving flowers before the show takes up a lot of time. Many people also objected to the award ceremony “Beautiful Audience” when the organizers asked the nominees to take a walk on the runway, affecting the shows behind. Many spectators lost their patience, constantly booing under the seats because they wanted to enjoy the show instead of side activities.

Y Ly