Ao Dai builds a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Singapore
The "Night of Asian Heritage" programme featuring the "From Roots to Future" collection was held in Singapore.
Through the language of fashion, the Vietnamese Ao Dai was showcased as part of Vietnam-Singapore cultural exchange, taking centre stage at the "Night of Asian Heritage" programme. The combination of traditional Vietnamese materials and motifs with Peranakan culture helped promote heritage values, deepen mutual understanding and strengthen friendship between the two countries.
As part of a State banquet hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore to mark the 81st National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on September 2, the "Night of Asian Heritage" programme recently presented fashion designer Ho Tran Da Thao's Ao Dai collection, "From Roots to Future".
The event was attended by senior leaders of Vietnam and Singapore, along with more than 400 guests from the diplomatic corps, Singaporean government agencies and the business community. The cultural performance was held at the invitation of Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh, adding an artistic highlight to the National Day diplomatic programme.
The models were Vietnamese women living and working in Singapore.
Traditional Ao Dai served as the centrepiece of the collection, placing Vietnamese aesthetic values in dialogue with Peranakan culture, a longstanding cultural tradition in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Fashion thus became a medium for telling a story of cultural interaction and adaptation within the Southeast Asian region.
The journey of materials also forms part of the collection's creative concept. Familiar materials were given new possibilities as the basis for contemporary fashion creations. Motifs recalling brocade, imperial garments, flowers and traditional Vietnamese patterns were reinterpreted through fabric-printing techniques.
Bao Loc silk, lotus silk and other materials associated with traditional life were incorporated into the experimentation and design process. The motifs were reworked in terms of line, proportion and composition, giving the Ao Dai a contemporary appearance.
Singer Doan Trang at the event.
Some details were embroidered and embellished by hand to add depth to the surface of the materials. Modern techniques combined with craftsmanship allowed traditional motifs to be interpreted in a contemporary manner, retaining their cultural identity while taking on forms suited to modern life.
The name "From Roots to Future" reflects the idea of continuity between heritage and the present. Values passed down through generations are approached through contemporary design thinking, creating new ways to introduce Vietnamese culture to international audiences.
Notably, the models were Vietnamese women living and working in Singapore. Many are women caring for their families who nevertheless volunteered their time to participate in the programme. Their presence brought the cultural story beyond the framework of a professional runway, connecting the exchange programme with the everyday lives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
Accompanying the fashion presentation, singer Doan Trang performed "Xinh tuoi Viet Nam", composed by Nguyen Hong Thuan. The combination of music and Ao Dai created a performance with a strong Vietnamese cultural identity in an international setting.
Speaking about the programme, designer Ho Tran Da Thao said she was delighted to be invited to create a cultural performance for the National Day celebrations. The concept was developed out of a desire to create a meaningful cultural exchange and express the connection between Vietnam and Singapore through art.
According to the designer, friendship between the two countries runs as a central emotional thread throughout the collection. The designs were selected from Tsafari's creative journey since 2005, reflecting the brand's approach of exploring East Asian culture and transforming traditional values through contemporary design.
Ho Tran Da Thao's "From Roots to Future" collection.
Ho Tran Da Thao, 47, graduated in English Literature from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, before graduating as valedictorian in fashion design from TAFE in Australia. In 2004, she won first prize at the Asian Fashion Competition. A year later, she founded the Tsafari brand. Her designs frequently draw on traditional motifs, history and heritage. In 2023, she presented her collection at London Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2024 season.
The combination of Ao Dai, traditional materials, music and Vietnamese people living in Singapore also created a natural form of connection. The programme thereby contributed to greater understanding and closer ties between the peoples of the two countries, while strengthening the cultural foundations of Vietnam-Singapore friendship.
Source: Nhandan.vn
