Efforts to bring the five-panel ao dai closer to young people

In the new Ao Dai collection, the designer skillfully brings the majestic appearance of the dragon along with poetic images of clouds, mountains, etc. into each outfit. He uses silk, satin, taffeta and natural colors as the background for the hidden image of the dragon mascot.

Having been successful in the wedding dress industry, designer Nam Tuyen pursued a career in designing ao dai with the desire to bring this traditional costume closer to the young. He also has his own concerns about the fading of national culture, especially the culture of wearing. “The five-panel ao dai is not only my love but also my responsibility to the tailoring profession that I have been involved in for over 40 years,” he expressed.

The designer shared that although he was proficient in tailoring, when making the five-panel ao dai, he rebuilt every process from scratch. He paid special attention to two factors: comfort and reasonable price. According to him, to achieve these two factors, if only hand-sewn, it would not be able to meet the market demand and the price would be high. And like that, the five-panel ao dai would not be able to reach a large number of users.

“I started to survey and analyze body measurements to convert them into standard sizes like European suits. This helps the five-panel ao dai to be mass-produced at a reasonable price, meeting the needs of a large number of customers. Next is to standardize the production process, starting with the craftsman,” said the designer.

Thanks to his efforts, the five-panel Ao Dai of the Nam Tuyen brand has appeared at many festivals as well as on special occasions such as weddings, engagements, etc. Many young people take the trouble to rent the five-panel Ao Dai of the Nam Tuyen brand to take photos. Each year, about 2,000 Ao Dai are released to the market, but he is ready for a larger quantity.

The designer does not hide his craft but is willing to pass on his knowledge to the next generation. Unlike wedding dresses that require many complicated stages of embellishment, he has now given the authority and techniques to cut and sew the dresses to most of the workers in his workshop. He is proud that any of his workers can complete a five-panel dress. “Even if they do not stick with the brand in the future, they can still make a living from the ao dai sewing profession,” the designer said.