It seems strange to say Vietnam’s fashion industry will be gloomy this year after 2007’s successes, many beauty pageants were held, which were opportunities for designers and models to show their talent and beauty; designer Vo Viet Chung earned fame at home and abroad; Fashion TV came to Vietnam to seek models; Dep Fashion Show 2007 was still the best of the year; many fashion shows were organized and many model training courses were held.

However, this isn’t enough to spur the fashion industry to further blossom; behind the façade of success, there are many innate problems.

Fashion TV’s Diamond ship traveling to Vietnam was mainly to promote tourism exchange while the Dep Fashion Show, after several years impressing viewers with the combination of fashion and contemporary dance, light and music, seems to have hit a wall.

In 2007 Vietnam didn’t have an particularly outstanding fashion show or a new bright model. Most were similar and some designers changed only the name of their collections to send to different shows.

Sponsors rule fashion shows, their gigantic big logos at the center of every catwalk. As each show costs around VND1 billion, all designers need sponsors, and under sponsors’ influence, their shows aren’t very professional.

These problems are not expected to go away in 2008 and are difficult to confront; as such, don’t expect too much of the industry this year.

(Source: Lao Dong)