Chic: A creation by Quang Nhat, highlighted by a new line of handmade accessories. — VNS Photo

HA NOI (VNS) — The latest fall and winter collections are set to wow the nation's fashionistas at this year's Fall/Winter Viet Nam Fashion Week starting next week from May 11-14.

Seventeen designers will showcase their designs on 800 models from their ready-to-wear and haute couture collections.

Three nights of ready-to-wear shows will feature newcomers to the Vietnamese fashion scene, including Ngoc Thanh, Cong Huan and Xuan Hao, while the haute couture night will showcase the latest clothes from the nation's established or veteran designers.

Designers from the Viet Thang Garment Corporation, known for harnessing cutting edge technology for garment-making, will also be able to show off their latest wares under brand names Burtley and FC.

Designer Bich Ha is said to have infused her latest collection with a minimalist style, combining a three-dimensional aesthetic with neutral colours in checkered-felt material.

The collections by Viet Thang's designers will be displayed on Sunday, May 11.

The first night of the week will also see some foreign-inspired favourites, with a collection from Spanish designer Diego Cortizas Del Valle, who debuted his label Chula in Viet Nam in 2004. The designer has since joined in the annual fashion week since 2012.

His collection, Chula Loves Ha Noi, features a unique Vietnamese taffeta silk.

Quang Nhat, the first winner of the 2013 Viet Nam Design Star Contest will also bring his unique collection to Vietnam Fashion Week.

Both of Nhat's collections of ready-to-wear and haute couture were inspired from the movement of time and space, according to his introduction at the press conference.

Nhat uses Indian sari fabric for the ready-to-wear collection and Vietnamese Bao Loc silk for the haute couture.

"I find sari fabric when I went to India for business. It is a new kind of sari," said Nhat.

He will also introduce a collection of accessories including necklaces and belts. The accessories have been handmade by a skillful artisan in the central province of Hue.

Nhat's collection take to the runway on the second night on May 12, which will also host Charming Lys, Duyen Huong, Ha Duy and Vo Cong Khanh.

The final night of ready-to-wear collections will be held on May 13 featuring veteran Minh Hanh. Hanh, who is committed to using environmentally-friendly materials made from bamboo and ramie, will present the most highly anticipated collection for the haute couture night.

It is the second time haute couture designs have graced the runways of the fashion week event.

"Making haute couture fashion is skillful, requiring non-stop creativity from a designer. A collection could be haute couture when it is made by special materials and unique designs," she said.

The biannual event will bring together 40 of the nation's top models, including 2010 Miss Viet Nam winner, Ngoc Han. The shows will be held at 8pm at Studio 14 inside the Viet Nam Television headquarters complex at 844 La Thanh Street.

The first Viet Nam Fashion Week was held in 1998 and has since become the peak annual event for the Vietnamese fashion industry. — VNS