Gaya (www.gayavietnam.com), the first and only lifestyle shop in Vietnam, has sprung from a creative partnership between five international designers, who come from different corners of the world with the same passion for Vietnam, for the friendliness of its people and the wealth of inspirations from the country's colors, traditions and materials.

Using local materials and craftsmanship to produce elegant items of unprecedented quality in Vietnam, Gaya commands the highest of enduring designs with great flair.

Michele De Albert 

One of Gaya's accomplished in-house designers is Michele De Albert. Michele modeled in Paris while studying law, but was naturally drawn to more creative pursuits. She was thrilled to evolve in the artistic Parisian scene as it fulfilled her creative aspirations, and quickly started a company designing fashion and gift items. In 1992, Michele was struck by Vietnam during her first trip there. She decided to throw caution to the wind and moved to Saigon in 1994.

The energy of Saigon, the friendliness of the people and the wealth of inspiration whether from colors or materials available enticed Michele to launch her own style of eclectic lacquer tableware and objects. Her sophisticated taste, bohemian lifestyle, and flair for design and color have created collections filled with sensual appeal.

In addition to Vietnamese workmanship and enthusiasm, she has added her own unique touch of lacquer to traditional materials such as bone, silver, bamboo, and ebony. Each piece of lacquerware receives 12 coats of varnish, which are meticulously dried and polished during the process. The impeccable finish reveals the purity and refined simplicity at the heart of each of Michele's elegant collections.

The products designed by Michele have been exported mainly to Europe, the Middle East and some Asian countries. Many world famous furniture shops and luxury hotels have selected her products such as Hermes, Conran Shop, Puiforcat, Agnes B, Bo Paris, One And Only Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Shangri La, Hyatt, and Ritz Carlton in Vietnam ...

Vietnamese customers are also increasingly aware of and looking to buy Michele’s products which are available at Gaya. "The beauty taste of Vietnamese people has changed,” said Michele. “They receive the new trend through their trip abroad, or by reading lifestyle magazines and quickly capture international standards of the beauty. The living standard of Vietnamese people has improved a lot over the past 15 years. They began to live in nice houses and facilities."