Vietnamese designer hits London catwalk

Cong Tri, one of Vietnam's leading fashion designers, will this month present his creations at the International Fashion Showcase – a highlight of the prestigious London Fashion Week 2013.

Cong Tri, one of Vietnam's leading fashion designers, will this month present his creations at the International Fashion Showcase – a highlight of the prestigious London Fashion Week (LFW) 2013.

Smooth operator: Designer Cong Tri (right) poses for a photo with HCM City Consul General Douglas Barnes and a model wearing a creation from his No 6 Nam-Mushroom collection.

During the one-week event that will take place from February 15-21, Tri, who is the first-ever Vietnamese designer at the LFW, will unveil his brand new collection No 6 Nam-Mushroom to international audiences after a triumphant debut in Vietnam last month.

Inspired from the invincible and non-stop growth of the mushroom and the unity of mushroom colonies, the collection impressed domestic audiences with its sophistication.

"Observing mushrooms, I had the idea of turning them into some kind of stylised details on dresses. It is the symmetrical layout of their structure and the free and chaotic way they grow that inspired me," said Tri.

Although Vietnam's fashion industry is increasingly asserting its own brand and cultural identity, it is still early days for British audiences to see and appreciate Vietnamese creativity. This is why the British Council Vietnam selected one of the country's most innovative design talents to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-UK relations.

Director of British Council Vietnam Robin Rickard explained the choice. "Convinced by his portfolio of award-winning collections, we believe that Cong Tri will impress London fashion lovers. He will represent all Vietnamese artists to serve as another strong link in the cultural ties between our two countries."

The International Fashion Showcase 2013 will be the second collaboration between the British Council and the British Fashion Council (the organisers of the event) to create an opportunity for the public in the UK to explore the collections of some of the most innovative emerging fashion designers from around the world.