Fashion expert Patricia Brien from the UK shares methods to promote fashion brands in Ha Noi on Tuesday. — VNS Photo An Thanh Dat

HA NOI (VNS) — The fashion world is always hungry for new things, and designers have to maintain creativity to meet the demand, fashion expert Patricia Brien said in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

At a seminar for design students, Brien, the course leader in fashion promotion at the University of South Wales, UK, presented Viet Nam's budding designers with some methods to promote their fashion brands.

Currently working as a collaborator for some well-known fashion magazines, she has a lot of experience in using media to promote brands.

During the seminar, she emphasised on the important role of social networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"These social networks, with their influence on life, have the power to help you introduce your designs to the world," she said.

"They support you in using photos and video clips to promote your brand, especially when you are an online retailer and entrepreneur."

Brien mentioned the different ways to help Vietnamese designers introduce their work to the world market such as photo shoots, fashion exhibitions and fashion events.

"I know Viet Nam has some emerging designers who have hit the world fashion stages, but they just have had a chance to shine only at these particular events," she said.

"Their brands don't have a firm position on the world market," she added.

She said that young Vietnamese designers need much more professional media strategies and a plan for what they intend to do.

"In my opinion, no designers can work in isolation if they want to promote their brand," she said.

"Designers need friends who are good at taking photos and making film clips and together, they can join hands to build their brand."

"They don't need to be fluent in English, but should know some keywords and phrases to briefly introduce their collections," she said.

When a designer targets different markets and consumers, he or she needs a different strategy. "Never mind if you fail, because my students have tried and tried until they have achieved a goal," she said.

Brien said Vietnamese designers are active and creative and she loves to work with them. She will return to Viet Nam at the end of this year, when she has more free time to research on traditional craft and materials. —VNS