The project is part of activities initiated by the New Zealand Embassy to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations and friendship between the two countries. — Photo vnexpress

HA NOI (VNS) — Twenty students from Viet Nam and New Zealand have begun working on the first fashion collaboration project between the two countries.

Organisers said in a press release that the project, which was officially launched last week, is a chance for 10 teams, each comprising one Vietnamese and one New Zealand student, to undertake "virtual" or on-line collaboration and design a collection of garments based on the theme of "Fusion".

The theme is designed to enable the students explore common traits and cultural values that the two countries enjoy, the press release said. The collections will be displayed at a fashion show held on August 6 in HCM City.

The release said that a critical element to the success of the collaboration will be how the students work together long-distance, using technology and IT platforms.

"This collaboration is an amazing opportunity to gain exposure to a different cultural and design perspective. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the design process works long-distance and what we will create together," said Miriam McCrean-or from Massey University's School of Design.

Khanh Vy from the Ha Noi University of Industrial Fine Arts said she hasn't worked with a foreign designer before.

"My New Zealand partner is meticulous and creative.

"However, I have to admit that our fashion styles have nothing in common, which has encouraged us to mix our thoughts, souls and styles to create a very unique collection of garments. Let's see how our collection turns out," Vy said.

The project is part of activities initiated by the New Zealand Embassy to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations and friendship between the two countries.

"People-to-people links, through education and tourism, are the bedrock of this relationship and our aim with this project is to showcase the opportunities for creative connections to be made between the younger generations from our two countries," said Ambassador Haike Manning.

"We are expecting innovative, vibrant, unique and creative fashion," he added.

The collections will be judged and the winning teams announced at the August 6 fashion show. The judging panel comprises Ambassador Manning, New Zealand fashion designer Tamsin Cooper and Vietnam Project Runway producer Tung Leo.

The New Zealand students will arrive in Viet Nam early in August to meet and work with their Vietnamese teammates in person and put the final touches on their collections.

Project participants were selected from hundreds of potential students from six of the top fashion schools in New Zealand and Viet Nam: HCM City School of Architecture; Ha Noi University of Industrial Arts; Otago Polytechnic; Massey University; Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design: and Auckland University of Technology. — VNS