Local designer Thuan Viet’s collection which highlights the fuse of “ao dai” (traditional Vietnamese long gown) and the Japanese kimono was showcased to local audiences before being taken to Japan during the Vietnam – Japan cultural exchange from Sept 11 to 25.

The exchange program will see the collection featured in five major Japanese cities, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nagoya.

Viet will showcase three collections titled “Snowy Flowers”, “The Far East Pearl” and “The Vietnam beauty” which accentuate the fuse of the two countries’ traditional and cultural beauties.

His “Snowy flowers” features Japanese spring flowers created with the Vietnamese hand embroidery art on the white silk of the Vietnamese “ao dai”. The three principal colors are black, white and red which are typical of the Asian culture.

“I have showcased my “ao dai” collections in Japan several times before, but this is the first time I’ve combined the two countries’ traditional attires. My “Snowy flowers” collection which features the dominant white, the flowers and shapes typical of the Japanese culture is a clear manifestation of the two countries’ ties,” shared Viet. 

The exchange program, put on by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties.