On September 29 Vietnam time, designer Phong Dinh officially presented his debut collection, L'Éclosion, at Paris Fashion Air as part of Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027.
Some of Phong Dinh's designs shown in Paris (Photo: Provided by the designer).
Born in 2002, Phong Dinh, whose real name is Dinh Thien Phong, graduated as runner-up in his class from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture. His collection, inspired by his hometown of Dalat, was also his graduation project.
The designs combine handcrafted techniques with a romantic and emotive aesthetic, eventually creating an opportunity for the young designer to present his work on an international runway.
Dinh said he had never imagined that designs created during his student years would make it to Paris and attract the attention of fashion enthusiasts.
“The moment was both special and unexpected. I was happy to see a dream that once seemed so distant become a reality,” he said.
The collection presented at Paris Fashion Air comprises 10 key looks exploring ideas of blossoming, transformation and the awakening of hidden beauty.
Dinh draws inspiration from Dalat, from houses emerging through thin mist and lush green mountains and forests to vibrant flower seasons beneath the sunset.
An outfit inspired by Dalat's natural landscape (Photo: Provided by the designer).
A garden of feminine beauty
Within this imagined garden, feminine beauty takes centre stage. The concept is expressed through sculptural silhouettes, handcrafted techniques and restrained forms designed to highlight the contours of the body.
One of the designer's distinctive materials is mother-of-pearl shell, arranged to create an iridescent effect that changes with the wearer's movements. This is combined with three-dimensional construction techniques to give the designs greater visual depth.
The collection also features the work of Dalat artisans using double-sided hand embroidery. Silk threads dyed with natural colours are used to recreate imagery associated with the city, including pine cones, flower fields and sunsets stretching across hillsides.
Each piece requires considerable time and patience to complete.
Phong Dinh with an international cast of models (Photo: Provided by the designer).
“I want to preserve the lightness and romance of mist, flowers, pine hills and sunsets, while creating silhouettes that are strong enough to stand out on an international stage,” Dinh said.
Through the painstakingly crafted designs, the Vietnamese designer seeks to celebrate femininity and portray women as both romantic and distinctly individual.
