Hanoi-Amsterdam Organization ::

Truong Thuy Ha- a prospective Vietnamese designer

The two young designers Thuy Ha and Hoang Anh with their brand name Mirror Mirror were selected as young Vietnamese designers by Mercedes-Benz Vietnam to compete in the 2004 Asian Mercedes-Benz Fashion Competition in Singapore last April. Thuy Ha is an Ams alumnus. After graduating, she met Hoang Anh, a Vietnamese student in Singapore. The two friends created their own brand name Mirror Mirror in hope to pursue their fashion dreams. “We want to create something simple but elegant!” Ha said. And what they brought to the competition proved what she had said.

On a hot July day, I met Truong Thuy Ha and had a friendly talk with her at one of Ha’s showrooms at 41b Quang Trung, Hanoi.

Reporter: Hi, I am Dang Van Ha, an HAO reporter. Thank you so much for taking your time to see me today. I’m a member of Class of 99-02, how about you?

- I entered Ams in my 9th grade, It was 9A2. I later continued my study at Ams throughout high school with class A3. Graduating in 1996 means the class of 93-96, right?

Reporter: Yeah… I read an article about you on Heritage Magazine. It made me happy and proud to see that Amsers are not only successful academically but also in making their names known in the fashion field! First of all, may I please ask some questions about your fashion career as a designer?

- It has not been much to call “career”. I have been with fashion only for 2 years. In 1999, I accidentally joined an amateur fashion competition held by the Italian embassy. Since then, designing has been my job.

Reporter: Had you studied designing before?

Absolutely not. I majored in Education Training at college. But I have been interested in designing since I was young; therefore, when I got the chance, I took it! But most of what I have learned is from friends, colleagues,etc; both from Vietnamese and international friends.

Reporter: Would you please tell us a little bit about your designing style?

- Youthful, modern but simple. Designed specifically for young people. I like Japanese and Italian fashion. I try to make my patterns comfortable and practical.

Reporter: Please, share with us what you saw at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Competition in Singapore last April when you just joined as a Vietnamese representative?

- It was an extremely professional contest. We had the chance to meet with famous designers as well as other young Asian ones from whom we learned a lot.

Reporter: How did you prepare for the competition and what did you show?

- We had only 10 days to complete the models. We ran about like a chicken with its head cut off because our models that seemed simple surprisingly required a lot of attention up to the smallest details. For instance, this striped suit might look simple but its inner is made of pink silky material with dragon and phoenix patterns.

Reporter: What was the greatest achievement you got from the competition?

- After the competition, many people praised and ordered our products, which was the biggest happiness overall.

Reporter: It is quite new for an Ams alumnus to step her foot on the fashion path. Has your time at Ams helped prepare you for your career?

- I loved Ams a lot! Hardly anywhere can you find such a school. There are talented youngsters there who are not only interested in studying but also have a good taste in fashion! They are creative, dynamic and open-minded. You may comment that Amsers are very stylish and westernized. In my opinion, Ams has been giving many individuals the chance to show their talents and personalities.

Reporter: Yeah… Can you share some of your memories at Ams with me?

- Actually, there is nothing... special. It was really strange as I used to be a timid school girl. I sat alone at the 1st table so what I looked at was always… teachers. But that does not mean I do not love my class. Sometimes, in retrospect, I wonder why I was not very sociable. Probably because of my quiet personality. once, I asked my old friend “You guys did not like me, did you?”. Do you know how they reacted? “Are you crazy? No one hated you, just because you were too timid!” I still remember vividly the teachers. My form teacher Mr.Thai was so funny. Mrs. Lan Anh, my English teacher… I most remember my Citizen Education teacher who subtracted 5 points from my paper since I handed in one minute late. But generally, the teachers were all good.

Reporter: Hmm, talking to you, I found you quite ...out-going.

- Maybe I have changed since then. The job also required lots of public contact.

Reporter: Doing 2 jobs, designing fashion and interior home decoration, at the same time also taking care of your 2 showrooms must make you really busy and tired. Do you get help from any family member?

- Tired and stressed. I just need to try, no other choice (laugh). Emotional help is still great, huh? Although none of my family is familiar with this field, they do support me!

Reporter: Would you please tell us about some of your future plans and dreams?

- My plans are... countless. But by now my greatest dream is to make Mirror Mirror become a popular brand name in Vietnam. My dream... is just like other designer's: to bring Vietnamese fashion to the international catwalk.

Reporter: I wish you all the best. Success in the future and further steps in your fashion career. Thank you so much for your time.

Reporter Ðặng Vân Hà - 99-02
Translated by Nguyễn Thanh Hương A1 01-04
Editor by Tăng Chí Minh L2 00-03
Submitted by Thuy tran A2-03-06
Source : http://www.hn-ams.org/hao/guongmat/hocsinh/0.671.1.55.html