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Story NAM THI, THU HOA, PHUONG UYEN
Photos INTERVIEWEES
Fashion and art are always closely linked. This month, Heritage Fashion talks to three leading figures from the Vietnamese fashion world who are striving to elevate the field to new heights of creativity.
Creative Director Alex Fox
Hello, Alex Fox. To start with, we would like to hear your opinion on the necessity of “extremism” in artistic creation?
To me, “extremism” is the determination and belief of a creative person in their art. It helps the artist to maintain their ego, their aesthetic direction and, above all, to believe in what they are doing. It is a way to keep their identity amid the fluctuations and different standards of society. If an artist is not extreme enough to stick to their chosen path, it is very difficult to create a unique image among the many other artists around.
How do external inspirations add value to fashion’s cross-field fusions? Are there any fields creatively incompatible with fashion?
The ideal thing for me is that my inspiration always comes from aspects outside the fashion world – that way, I can find something new that other people have not done. The real value of creativity lies in the life experience of each person, combined with the experience and professional skills in the job they are doing. All of this will create unique outcomes. As for whether there are any fields that cannot be creative with fashion, there are none. Nothing is impossible because the word “creative” is limitless, and fashion always encourages differences.
In art, visuals make the first impression but content is what makes a viewer linger. How do you balance these in your artistic practice?
Everything starts with the content I want to convey. But then we must understand that if we wish these meanings to reach the public most impressively, we cannot ignore the visual aspect. Content and form both have their essential values, so I will balance this ratio to suit each project. The percentage can be 70-30. There will be times when the message is deep enough, then the image only needs to be simple and sophisticated. But sometimes, it is necessary to focus on form to attract the viewer and stimulate the audience’s excitement. In short, I like to create beautiful works of art on a foundation of deep meaning.
What makes a true Creative Director?
I admit that I am not good at creating new things, but I know I am good at combining existing things with my aesthetic standards, taste and “extremism” to create products with the Alex Fox identity. I think that creative people need to start with a desire to do something different. That purpose is reflected in the work, and it is apparent whether you are responsible or superficial. We joke that we don’t want others to recognize our sources of reference. It’s a joke, but it has a lot of implications for the ethics of creative people.
What do you hope for in the next stage?
Honestly, I can’t define success. I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. Every step of the way, I meet people who are better than me, so I don’t know where to measure success. I just know that I will keep moving forward and keep developing. The next horizon is always ahead, and all I have to do is reach for it.
We wish you all the best going forward!
Photographer Tang Tang
Hello, Tang Tang. As a familiar name in the Vietnamese fashion world, what keeps you passionate about your work and how do you bring a freshness to each frame?
To be honest, there is nothing more attractive and alluring than quietly and freely immersing yourself in beautiful things. The time I spend with photography and fashion is a journey where I get to live with beauty naturally. For me, photography is the art of observation. I capture the beauty in a comprehensive way and depict it through my lens. That’s enough for me to stick with the job.
You are known for a liberal aesthetic with cinematic and emotional images. So, how can your photographic language be best described in words?
I think photography is about going deep and exploring the character’s inner self, not turning them into a different-looking entity. Therefore, my photographic language is simply like the way I take care of a garden to keep it green and full of life, or the way I carefully cook a delicious meal and invite everyone to enjoy.
In your work, fashion elements always move seamlessly to express abstract beauty. How have you specifically conveyed your personal aesthetic and fashion message visually through photography?
All ideals, formulas and definitions are simply things that we are forced to accept temporarily in a vast, constantly shifting world. However, I personally believe that art should not be limited by a specific formula or perspective. Doing this job too formally can be boring. Therefore, the aesthetic concept or fashion message that I convey in my work can only be described in relative terms. A photo worth being proud of is when it is full of the spirit of the times but still bears the unique identity and personal thinking of the photographer.
How has living with photography for more than a decade, specifically fashion photography, shaped who you are today?
For me, everything that is familiar enough will become old, everything that is strange enough will be forgotten, and only creativity is indispensable. Reflecting on what I have experienced, photography gives me the opportunity to explore and project the beauty around me through my own lens. Photography also allows me to live with my truest self.
Fashion photography requires the expression of numerous elements related to concept, outfits, colors. So how are the creative aspects of a photographer usually expressed?
Is it true that ideal beauty does not exist and has never existed? Or that we can’t hold or touch it, can’t see it with our own eyes and hear its every little movement?
Personally, I think that ideal beauty often only appears fleetingly in thought, hidden in the stream of thought. Taking a picture is the act of creating a work of art. Be bold, experiment and create the impossible, accept the “all or nothing” to create something interesting.
Can you share with Heritage Fashion readers any upcoming plans?
In the future, I will not limit myself to any particular field. I choose to experiment with new things and hone my technique and emotions to create new works that keep up with the times. I think I choose to develop more with emotions than reason, not only in photography but also in art.
Thank you – we wish you success with your upcoming projects!
Fashion Designer Ha Linh Thu
Do you think fashion is a form of art?
Fashion is art, and it is expressed through the language of clothing and form. Sometimes people mistake fashion for clothing, which is why there are complaints about runway clothes that can’t be worn. This misunderstanding is normal, so we need many activities to help the public understand fashion art more widely. Fashion is also like other art forms such as painting, music and literature. It has its own periods and schools, and each designer has their own way of pursuing it.
Born into an artistic family with your grandfather being a renowned People’s Artist and painter, how do you see art influencing your fashion designs?
I was lucky to be close to my grandfather for the first five years of my life. From age 4, I was holding a pen and drawing next to him. The aestheticism, romance and elegance of Hanoi and the artistic environment in my grandfather’s life have probably shaped my design style. I don’t follow the trend of making unconventional or minimalist fashion. I like elegance with high aesthetics and eclecticism.
When incorporating art into fashion, what do you find easy and what do your find difficult?
Fashion is art, so applying art is an advantage. It helps designs escape the “ordinary” nature of clothing. It elevates clothing to the level of creativity because I’m sure you’ve also been surprised by a fashion design that is still wearable but very unique. Art gives fashion a huge space for everyone to have plenty of room to be creative. The variety of materials in fashion is another advantage of expressing one’s creativity.
As for the difficulties, of course there are many. But difficulties are actually natural because nothing is done without difficulty. So perhaps the challenge here is to distinguish between what is art and what is “thought to be art.” This is really difficult because it requires a solid foundation of aesthetic knowledge and good taste to be able to distinguish between the two intangible things above.
What would you want to share with young Vietnamese designers of the future?
For future designers, their time will be very different from ours in all aspects – lifestyle, consumer culture, entertainment. These things will greatly affect how we approach and introduce new fashion designs. However, as we can see, life is very diverse. And recently, after going too far, some famous fashion brands, such as Gucci, have returned to their original values. So the most important thing is to do what you love and are passionate about, don’t follow what others do. Be creative so that others follow what you do.
Is Vietnamese traditional art attractive enough to be brought into international fashion?
We have often talked about the word “identity,” but it is not easy to understand. When we do understand, that is the path that leads us to success in the world. Vietnam has rich traditional art and a diverse strength in handicrafts, and that is an excellent platform for us.
The problem here is how to incorporate these traditional elements into fashion. I think if we bring all of those things into fashion or any art form, it will be tough for us to integrate into the world. Perhaps, it will only be like an exhibition to see what Vietnam is like, where we may get some applause because the audience is always polite. But to conquer the market and be accepted from a commercial or even artistic perspective is another story. At that time, we should only keep a Vietnamese spirit, a certain element, and we need creativity to integrate it with contemporary updates. Only then can we conquer the world.
Thank you and we hope you continue to find fashion innovations!
