(VNF) - Twenty outstanding fashion students from New Zealand and Vietnam recently commenced work on the first ever New Zealand - Vietnam fashion collaboration.

From early May until late July 2015, ten teams - comprised of one Vietnamese and one New Zealand student - will undertake ‘virtual’ or online collaboration to prepare a collection of garments according to the theme of “Fusion”. The theme is designed to enable the students to explore the common traits and cultural values the two countries enjoy.

The collections will be judged, and the winning teams announced, at a high end fashion show at the Caravelle Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city on August 6th.

“People-to-people links, through education and tourism, are the bedrock of the bilateral 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. We’re expecting innovative, vibrant, unique and creative fashion!” said New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Mr Haike Manning.

The fashion show on August 6th will be the culmination of months of hard work by the students involved. In April, students from fashion schools throughout New Zealand and Vietnam were selected from hundreds of potential students to participate in the project.

Twenty students were chosen from six of the top fashion schools: HCMC School of Architecture; Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts; Otago Polytechnic; Massey University; Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design; and Auckland University of Technology.

They are now working together in teams to jointly develop their collection of garments for the fashion show. A critical element to the success of the collaboration will be how the students work together long-distance, using technology and IT platforms.

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

“This is an amazing format for us. Never have I ever worked with a foreign talented designer. 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, soul and style to create a very unique collection of garments. Let’s wait and see how our collection turns out!” said Khanh Vy from the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Art.

The team that produces the range deemed by the judging panel of Mr Haike Manning, New Zealand fashion designer Tamsin Cooper and Fashion Mentor & Head Producer of Vietnam’s Project Runway 2014-2015 Mr Tung Leo as best meeting the theme will be crowned the winner and will receive NZD2,000./.

( VNF )