Minimalism, Joe Chia’s design

According to Chia, fashion does not necessarily have to follow trends.

Fashion does not have to be all about the frills. Clean lines make for a seamless design aesthetic too. This is the idea that designer Joe Chia believes in. The 27-year-old Malaysian is known for being a minimalist.

Joe Chia was a promising designer even before he graduated from his bachelor degree program in Fashion Design. In 2007, he won the DiGi Street Blast Fashion Design Competition. His creations continued to impress, he won the Best Collection Award at the RDI Graduation Fashion Show and he emerged as 2nd Runner-up at the Stylo Mercedez-Benz Young Designer Award in 2009.

The designer launched his own ready-to-wear line two years after his graduation, in 2012 that the eponymous Joe Chia label was born.

For Spring Summer/Summer 2015, he is sending a message that touches on environmental conservation. As such, he uses bamboo linen and other natural fibres.

On his personal style, he states: “I love layering. I also dress mostly in black. My designs reflect this, I’m trying to send out a lot of monochrome shades on the runway.”

Chia has presented his collections in various cities. His runway shows travel the world, from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Manila to Madrid, Paris, Tokyo, Milan and Moscow, amongst many others.

He has also collaborated with Shu Uemura, Honda, Chivas, Sony, Reebok and G-Shock. In 2013, he designed a range of limited edition graphic T-shirts for Uniqlo.

Vietnam's new designers

Linda Mai Phung is a French fashion designer based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where she founded her homonymous label in 2010.Her designs are inspired from her journeys and peregrinations around the world. Linda Mai Phung’s designs wander between tradition and modernity at the confluence of Asia and Europe. Her collections boast qualitative craftmanship and style for an inventive, feminine and elegant wardrobe.

Vu Ta Linh 

Linh has a colourful fashion background. At his parents’ insistence, he reluctantly joined the Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema in 2005. He soon fell in love with traditional Vietnamese costumes that he learnt to make, and the history behind them. The fabrics, colours, shapes and detailing captivated him and, today, find their places in the collections he has created. Linh’s pieces have caught the eye of the fashion industry. In 2009, he took the second place spot in Hanoi’s Aquafina Pure Fashion competition and went on to compete in the same competition in Ho Chi Minh later that year. 

Linh’s women’s wear collections are inspired by a Vietnamese culture. He captures its elegance through contrasts in colors, lines and materials. He also utilises techniques, such as quilting, stitching, weaving, embroidery and patchwork.

Lucy’s Dream

Born in 2012, Lucy’s Dream is formed by a group of young Vietnamese artists sharing a common concept: to turn art into wearable art pieces. Their collections have focused on art themes, such as Đông Hồ painting culture of Vietnam, Vietnamese ethnic beauty, Surrealism and photographic sceneries, Greek mythology and typography. All pieces of clothing are hand-drawn, digitally manipulated, printed and then sewed, ensuring a highly skilled level of production and care. Alongside their fashion line, the collective also runs a sewing workshop for young people.

In less than two years, Lucy’s Dream has grown from an online store to a real one in Hanoi, with a substantial group of followers and buyers that share the same value in the arts and fashion.

Ly Giam Tien

Hi is 18-year-old designer, who has a really tough life as he struggled in his childhood and made his living by doing many jobs as snacks vendor, mason and tailor. this young designer never got to any vocational class or fashion school; however, he always cherished his passion for fashion and kept moving forward to make his dream come true.

Ly Giam Tien has proved to fashion luminaries that his creativity is not limited. With his consistency and enthusiasm, he has conquered the highest title of Project Runway Vietnam 2014 after going through many cut-throat challenges.

Vietnamese Haute Couture

Frederick Lee  

Huynh Hai Long

Lan Houng 

Chu La

Hein Dug 

Hai Long and The Huy 

Minh Hanh

Nguyen Cong Tri 

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