Vuong has been studying fashion design for one year at the Raffles Institute on 117 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan district. “I like drawing, fashion and design since I was a kid”, he says. “Three years ago, my friends got me to participate in a shooting for a teen magazine. Since then, I started buying original clothes, mixing and combining things to create my style”, he recalls. Young and vibrant, Vuong wears a creation of its own, a sleeveless gilet, which unveils the whole back. A gorgeous broche enlights the ensemble. “I love mixing things together, combining my own creations with things I can find on the market”, he smiles. “I designed the gilet I am wearing two years ago. Gilet was coming back at the time. I wanted to renew it and adapt it to the hot climate here. I took out the back and the front, which makes it look like a scarf. Then some friends helped me assemble it as I did not know how to sew back then !”
Vuong is just starting his second year but he already gained a lot of assurance. “I have learned to know my style, my strenghts and my weaknesses, I have a clearer direction when I design and assemble a piece together”, he analyses. “I am now more aware of all the aspects of creation - fabrics, sewing constrains . When I wear my own creation it feels great. I think it will be even better when in the near future, hopefully, I see my creations worn by people on the street !” he jokes. But don’t talk theory with Vuong as for him, fashion is a question of experience, self-expression and feeling. “I prefer actual creation and production rather than theory like in fashion merchandising classes”, he comments. “That is why I took this job at Ha Gattini. Five months ago, they posted a job at the school. I went to the interview not knowing what to expect really.” At the interview, the recruiter was impressed by what Vuong was wearing, a creation of its own once again. “They said I was dressed up beautifully and ready for the runway ! That is how I got the job I guess!” he laughs.
This working experience gave him a hint on what is the actual job of stylist and designer. “I work part-time as a stylist. I take care of the windows arrangement, I choose the style of clothes for fashion shows. Now I also give my ideas for the next collection. I love working with Ms Ngoc, the owner. We get along very well. Once we went to the market separately to buy fabrics and we ended up buying the same !” , he smiles. “After I graduate, I would like to work straight away. For me, you can improve in this job only through actual experience. So after I graduate, I would like to work as a designer, in casual wear”, he concludes.
