Hanoi fashion show to feature Japanese designer’s traditional kimonos, ao dai

The event, part of a cultural exchange to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, will feature 20 kimonos and six ao dai made from traditional fabric besides Japanese music and make-up art.

To take place at the Intercontinental Hanoi West Lake at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the event will also feature an exhibition of kimonos and ao dai.

The clothes are made from materials such as Japanese silk from the Meiji and Taisho eras and the rare teatro fabric. They will be combined with traditional Vietnamese silk pants.

Some of the designs have been hand-painted by Japanese artisans.

"[There will be] antique kimonos that were made more than 100 years ago," Thanh Nien newspaper quoted Kobayashi as saying. "I have been inspired and put a lot of effort into making ao dai from kimono fabric. I consider these to be important works of my career."

For more than 20 years her designs have been presented in Asia, Europe and the Americas besides Japan.

In 2018 she directed a kimono show at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris in the presence of over 1,100 guests, including ambassadors and heads of state. To this day, this is still one of the largest cultural events that UNESCO has ever organized in Paris.