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Story: TINA DO
Photos: KIENG CAN TEAM
Dubbed “The Wizards of Color”, VUNGOC&SON excel at using the beauty of fashion to promote Vietnam’s stunning landscapes. To date, the duo have staged 10 fashion shows in interesting locales across Vietnam.
VUNGOC&SON is a fashion brand known for promoting travel in Vietnam. As designers, why did you set out to accomplish this goal?
As artists, we are constantly striving to honor beauty in all of its forms, including lifestyles, manners, charisma, and the essence of culture. The endless source of inspiration for VUNGOC&SON is Vietnam itself, with its historical depths and the bounty of famous destinations from North to South. We are honored to introduce Vietnamese beauty to friends from all over the world, not only at shows held in Vietnam but also at major international events.
Perhaps two of our international events made the greatest impressions. Firstly, we brought Vietnamese wool to the New York catwalk at our Ky uc tuoi tho (Childhood Memory) show. Secondly, assembled guests at meetings and conferences with global friends were delighted to don ao dai tailor-made by VUNGOC&SON from purely Vietnamese materials and patterns.
You must have wonderful memories of the places where your shows have been held.
To date, VUNGOC&SON has held 10 of our own shows in various locations throughout Vietnam. Each show delves into a famous destination, a hidden beauty, and a fashion story with its own imprints. We’re particularly proud of holding fashion shows in venues that had never hosted one before. It’s our challenge, motivation, and signature all rolled into one. For example, Vang son (A Better Day) marked the first time Vietnamese designers were permitted to hold a show in the Truong Lang corridors of the Hue Imperial Citadel; Vung troi binh yen (Peaceful Skies) was held in Hoi An Old Town by the romantic Hoai River; and Ky uc tuoi tho (Childhood Memory) was the first show to receive approval and be staged in the Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office.
Some other concept fashion shows, such as Fashion Voyage by Longkan or Hanh trinh Di san (Journey of Heritage) by Hoang Cong Cuong, also set goals related to promoting destinations. How do VUNGOC&SON’s shows stand out?
Many roads may lead to the same place. We are glad to share our journey with our companions, but each factor adds a different hue. In producing our shows, we prioritize preserving identity within fresh combinations, as well as cultural and human factors. You will never see the same fashion story or design appear in two VUNGOC&SON shows because they are transformed and coordinated based on individual perceptions.
Which Vietnamese destinations do you plan to visit in the near future?
Son (Dinh Truong Tung) and I (Vu Ngoc Tu) discovered many exciting things on our many journeys through Vietnam, which became materials for our designs and production. Based on our experiences, we harbor many ideas for celebrating local beauty. Instead of rushing, we prefer to take our time to create “feasts of fashion and tourism – feasts of sights, feelings, and sounds”. In the hands of the “Wizards of Color”, no matter how familiar or strange a location may seem, it will still be transformed into something new.
Thank you, VUNGOC&SON, for your interesting insights. We wish you the best of luck in your creative endeavors.
