Vietnamese designers to dress nation’s Miss Universe hopeful

Local designers will create the traditional dresses to be worn by Vietnam’s Miss Universe hopeful at this summer’s competition in the Bahamas, the company in charge of prepping the contestant said.

Hoan Vu Joint Stock Company announced that 31-year-old designer Nguyen Cong Tri will design 12 dresses including an evening gown and miniskirts for 21-year-old model Vo Hoang Yen, while the ABC fashion line will design three traditional yet innovative ao dai, or Vietnamese long tunics. Tri and Yen are now discussing the designs for the event at Paradise Island this August, Hoan Vu said. Raised in a poor inner-city neighborhood in Da Nang, Tri first gained recognition with prizes at the Vietnam Collection competition and Asia Collection Makuhari contest in Japan, both in 2000. A year later, Tri nabbed the second prize at the Fashion Collection Singapore contest. His designs have been displayed at major fashion shows in Vietnam and abroad. The 12 dresses and three ao dai designed for Yen will be finished by July 20, said Hoan Vu. Hoang Yen said she has been preparing to show the world Vietnam’s true beauty. The first runner-up of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 pageant has taken courses in English, culture and tourism, as well as a training program run by the John Robert Powers modeling agency. Reported by Da Ly http://www.thanhniennews.com/