From South China Morning Post
Ethnic themes are everywhere this season, from Givenchy’s kimonos to Alexander McQueen’s tribal beading and embellishments. Bang on trend is British brand Thu Thu, which wouldn’t look out of place on the Parisian catwalks with its colourful handwoven Vietnamese embroideries and contemporary silhouettes.
Designer Thuy Duong Nguyen tells Divia Harilela how the discovery of a fabric in a remote Vietnamese village led to the founding of her fashion label. Photo from South China Morning Post.
“When I started, I was the only one using exotic fabrics but now I am noticing so many brands going in that ethnic direction,” says founder Thuy Duong Nguyen. “What makes us different, though, is the cut. It’s all about making the look modern while paying respect to craftsmanship.” While most designer brands will be jumping onto a new trend next season, the vibrant fabrics sourced from Hmong women in Vietnam are the foundation of Nguyen’s label, which was founded in 2010.
Born in Vietnam and raised in a small town in Germany, Nguyen didn’t consider a career in fashion until she spotted an ad for famed fashion school Esmod while still at secondary school.
“I loved art and drawing dresses, but never thought about fashion design. Then I saw the ad and decided to give it a try. I always knew I would pursue something creative,” she says.
After studying in Berlin for three years, she interned at MTV in 2008 where she styled presenters and celebrities and built up a list of contacts. A few months later she was off to Vietnam on a mission to source clothing for some of her clients. There she uncovered beautiful silks and exquisite tailoring, but it was her visit to a remote village in the North where she found the inspiration for her label.
“I discovered the Sapa fabrics and immediately thought, why is no one using these? The fabric is handwoven by the Hmong women to celebrate the birth of a baby and sometimes takes up to two years to make. I just fell in love with the colours and workmanship. Every piece is different and is handmade using natural dyes like beeswax,” she says.
After amassing a collection of vintage Sapa skirts and blankets, Nguyen went about creating her first piece – a biker jacket featuring contrasting panels of Sapa fabric with modern materials and zips. It became an immediate hit when she went back to Europe, appearing in the press and being worn by celebrities. It remains her bestseller today. In 2010, she headed back to Vietnam with a master plan to create a full ready-to-wear collection and Thu Thu was officially born.
“By this time I was based in London and found a girl to help me with the patterns and tailoring. It took me a while before I was brave enough to launch it, but I had a gut feeling that it was the perfect time. No one else was doing this sort of thing.
Read the full article from South China Morning Post.
