Photo 24h.com.vn

HCM CITY (VNS)— International fashion cognoscenti have hailed young Vietnamese fashion designers and rated the country's fashion industry as highly promising.

Speaking to the media yesterday to introduce the 12 finalists of reality fashion design show Project Runway Viet Nam, Jean Paul Cauvin of Paris's Atelier Chardon Savard institute said after meeting outstanding Vietnamese students – the winners of the first season last year, who got scholarships to go to his institute – he realised the huge potential of Viet Nam's fashion industry.

"I have also met several wonderful Vietnamese fashion designers."

Frank Cintamani, president of the Asian Couture Federation, too said he had met some outstanding Vietnamese designers, and labelled Viet Nam the ‘Paris of East.'

He named Le Thi Quynh Trang, organiser of Project Runway Viet Nam, his federation's representative in Viet Nam.

Hoang Minh Ha, last year's winner, who is training at the institute along with two runners-up, had his collection called "Black Rose" presented at Tiffany Fashion Week in Paris recently.

The 29-year-old from the Central Highlands said the contest changed his life and saved him from depression.

For this year's contest, the jury announced 12 qualifiers for the finals after tough qualification rounds in Ha Noi and HCM City last month.

The judges include designers Cong Tri and Tung Leo, Harper's Bazaar representative Tran Nguyen Thien Huong, and actress Truong Ngoc Anh, who will also be the host.

Besides a VND700 million (US$33,300) cash prize, the winner will have their winning collection published on the Harper's Bazaar cover, a scholarship at the fashion institute, and other prizes.

The winner, along with his model, will also be invited to New York to showcase their collection at the New York Couture Fashion Week.

Following the success of the first season, the second is set to start on May 11 on Viet Nam Television, with the finals to be broadcast live on July 6.

First broadcast in the US in 2004, "Project Runway" is now produced in more than 100 countries. — VNS