Week 2: Nation and Dress

After reading Professor Caroline Valverde's "Ao Dai Revival" and discussion of the very interesting questions asked by this weeks presenters, Zoe and Rhegille, I was left debating to myself. Does the appearance of new Ao Dai designs on major runways undermine the historical context and traditions it represents or breathe new life into the culture and pay homage to the national icon.

I believe the recent emergence of the Ao Dai in the fashion world reinvigorates pride in and pays respects to the beauty and rich culture of Vietnam. Given the quote shared at the very beginning of the article from Le Si Hoang stating "Vietnamese culture borrows from other cultures to make our own" it seems only fitting that in return the Vietnamese culture should be shared widely with the rest of the world. What better way to do that than by displaying the beauty of the national dress at the highest level.

I found a relatively recent example of the Ao Dai being proudly shown off in new ways by designer Ngo Nhat Huy at a Fashion show in Paris, France in 2015
Knowing that the designer usually always has say in who walks the dresses they make, the fact that Huy chose to let both French and Vietnamese models showcase his designs shows that the Ao Dai should be enjoyed by all.

      J.J. Noel