The Vietnamese designer's brand SIXDO held its show as part of the 2024 S/S New York Fashion Week on Sunday at Spring Studios, where numerous renowned fashion brands – including Micheal Kors, Calvin Klein, and Oscar de la Renta – have held previous shows.
50 creations were showcased by 30 models on a S-shaped runway in the show that marked Cuong's first participation at one of the four biggest fashion weeks in the world.
Cuong said he had to convince the event organizers to let him hold a 15- instead of a 9-minute show as initially planned. The number of models who walked in his show was also raised from 25 to 30.
According to Cuong, it took him more than two years to prepare for the show. "I wanted to showcase the image of Vietnam through this show," Cuong said.
Polka dot, stripes, and the brand's name were the patterns that can be seen in most of the designs.
Various common fashion elements that showcased Cuong's designing style, in essence the patterns and three-dimensional flower-patterned appliques, can also be seen in the collection.
With Cuong's unique layering method, those common elements were added touches of personality.
Recreating the classy streetwear vibe, Cuong’s designs used black, white, and pink as their main colors.
Various fabric choices were used in the collection, ranging from tweed, brocade, and taffeta, to organza, cotton, silk, fur, and voile.
The collection also helped the Vietnamese designer demonstrate his skills and strong sense of color.
The use of layers created a "story" connecting Cuong's designs.
By pairing clothes with large polka dots and those with small polka dots, outfits with polka dots and those with stripes or the brand's logo, or a night gown and a bodysuit, the Vietnamese designer created a strong visual stimulation.
The way Cuong matched his designs can also be seen among many fashionistas in New York, who enjoy adding casual touches to formal designs.
Cuong also introduced handbag designs that take the shape of three-dimensional flowers, which he and other co-workers spent two months working on.
Beside the 50 creations showcased throughout the show, Cuong prepared an additional 10 in the event that he could convince the organizers to lengthen the show.
Holding his show at an international fashion week for the first time, Cuong said he encountered a few challenges in terms of time, human resources, and costs during the preparation process.
"Every preparation phase needed to be as detailed as possible," he said. "A lot of things could only be confirmed at the last minute by the event organizers. When the cultural differences added up, my entourage and I felt pressured."
Still, Cuong considered it a precious experience.
The Vietnamese designer discussed with Jennifer Starr, the event's casting director, to finalize the list of models participating in his show. He said he was satisfied with the models he had, who all came from top agencies such as IMG Model, Next, Wilhelmina, Crawford, Ford, and Fusion.
"The international models brought a new vibe to my designs," he said. "Their strong style made the show more lively."
Vietnamese designer Do Manh Cuong's brand SIXDO's show at New York Fashion Week. Video by Huynh Cuong, Phim Tran
