City clothing, jewellery designer favours ethnic minority fabrics

City clothing, jewellery designer favours ethnic minority fabrics

On one mid-summer day, the sun's strong, burning rays seem to have kept most people inside. Endless waves linger on a white, sandy beach in the central province of Binh Thuan.

Australian designer Cynthia Mann walks along the beach in her bare feet with a large, brimmed bamboo hat. The hot sun doesn't seem to bother her, as she has lost herself searching for treasures along the shore. From time to time she kneels down, picks something up and smiles to herself. She finds broken pieces of ceramics or glass, revealed by their twinkling as they reflect the sun's rays between waves.

Most would ignore the small objects. But for Mann, they're inspiration for new jewellery designs.

During a holiday on the beach, she might collect dozens of pieces. She reshapes them and frames them with silver, turning them into ornamental wares for her brand Future Traditions.

Mann has designed ornamental wares this way for more than a year. Her jewellery is purchased by expats, tourists and some Vietnamese.

"One can only imagine the stories behind each piece of ocean-polished ceramics and sea glass found washed up along the coast of Viet Nam – are they fragments from the cargo of one of the shipwrecks which date as far back as the 13th century, intended for trade in Europe?" She wrote on her website. "Or broken and discarded crockery from which the sailors ate?...We may never know, but in using what others would, and have, thrown away, these recycled pieces can reclaim their part in Viet Nam's seafaring history, this time as unique pieces of jewellery."

Mann said she knew she wanted to live in Viet Nam the very first time she stepped into a taxi on her first visit six years ago. Now, some of her favourite things about Viet Nam are its coffee and delicacies offered during the Tet holiday.

"It's hard to figure out which features of the country lured me," she said. "Its vibrancy, people and atmosphere. I sense that anything can happen here while Viet Nam is changing very fast. I feel a strong and fascinating culture identity here, though the country has blended Chinese, French and American influences, especially in tribal minority groups in mountain areas."

An average day for Mann includes shopping at big markets in the city like Hom and Dong Xuan, where she can buy materials for designing clothes and accessories. Her weekends are often spent in remote mountain communities in Ha Giang, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces.

Hand-woven designs

A love for fabrics hand-woven and hand-dyed by ethnic minorities is evident in Mann's designs. She said these fabrics had the highest quality and diversity. But the handicraft has been dying out as cheap Chinese goods flood the market. While lots of people work with ethnic minority textiles, there are few options for stable production of the handmade goods.

Mann has built relationships with locals, so she can order special textiles and use them in their designs. By blending traditional brocade with decorative patterns on small areas like hems, necks, buttons and borders decorations, she creates fashionable clothing at reasonable prices, while using special features of ethnic minority culture.

"I think her designs are special in the way she blends ethnic patterns," said Mai Thanh Nga, a fashion design student from Ha Noi Open University. "They bear both traditional and modern motifs, and I think they suit city life."

Mann said she designed items for all seasons and genders.

"I feel like I have a special connection to Viet Nam," she said, explaining why she has stayed in the country so long. "I don't know, Viet Nam may have put a spell on me."

Source: VNS

Bài viết liên quan

	Exhibition features Hanoi’s Old Quarter from 11th century Photos on the development of Hanoi’s Old Quarter from the 11th century until now are being displayed around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) in an exhibition with the theme “Ke Cho -- Old Quarter”. Detail >>

	Thousand-year old cave gives Cao Bang a splendid beauty Northern Cao Bang province is home to many tourist attractions like Ban Gioc fall, Pac Bo historical site, and particularly Nguom Ngao cave. Detail >>

	Admiring starry sky on Bach Moc Luong Tu mountain top Bach Moc Luong Tu range which is 3,046m above the sea level has become an attraction to many adventurous tourists because of its primary and breathtaking beauty. Detail >>

	'Europe Days 2015" is back to stage showcasing the richness of European culture Set to provide a bridge for cross-cultural exchange, the “Europe Days 2015” program will come back to open a window into the richness of the European Union’s different cultural traditions with a series of entertaining and intellectual activities. Detail >>

	White Waterfall wows visitors in remote countryside paradise Tourists may feel lost in the beauty and majesty of nature when they arrive at Thac Trang (White Waterfall), one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the mountainous province of Quang Ngai. Detail >>

	Ha Long Carnival 2015 kicks off The annual Ha Long Carnival 2015 kicked off in the northern province of Quang Ninh on May 8, featuring over 2,700 professional and amateur artists. Detail >>

	“Lotus and antiquities” exhibition to be launched The Vietnam National Museum of History will launch a special exhibition themed “Lotus and antiquities” on May 14 in Hanoi with the aim of introducing local and international visitors to the beauty and meaning of the lotus flower in the Vietnamese culture. Detail >>

	Cultural tourism of Cham ethnic minority Inra Jaya is a Cham ethnic minority who has travelled extensively to many countries around the globe and strongly believes that tourism is the catalyst that will preserve the group’s way of life. Detail >>

	Viet Nam jumps five grades in tourism competitive edge Viet Nam ranked the 75th out of 141 countries in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), five grades higher than 2013. Detail >>

	DPM introduces VN’s tourism to ABC News Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam on May 13 joined a live interview with the ABC News for its "Good Morning America" to introduce Viet Nam’s tourism. Detail >>