Sa Pa Style: The Fashion World Flirts with Vietnam

July 18, 2014

Global textiles have been walking down runways for a while now; ikats from Central Asia, wax-dyed West African batik prints and indigo tie-dyed shibori from Japan are now available everywhere from Anthropologie to Zara. But there is one global textile that’s just starting to create waves: the intricately hand-embroidered fabrics from Northern Vietnam.

We first started noticing these beautiful, brightly colored textiles on street style blogs.

Then on the runway and fashion magazines.

And finally, in stores like hip Hong Kong boutique, A Boy Named Sue. Here Thu Thu, a German designer of Vietnamese heritage, sources embroidery from Northern Vietnam for her contemporary designs.

Vietnam has over 50 ethnic groups, many of which live in the lush Truong Son mountain range in Northern Vietnam. The Hmong and Dao (or Zao) are two of the tribes that live in villages nestled between green terraced paddy fields, and both are known for their intricate embroidery. Each embroidered panel is stitched without a pattern, and with endless patience. Usually sewn on cloth dyed with natural indigo, the rich orange, yellow and blue colors of the geometric patterns tell stories of the tribe’s life and history.

Project Bly sourced its embroidered scarfs, jackets, belts and jewelry from the Red Dao village of Ta Phin, a 14 km hike from the biggest town in the Northern mountains, Sa Pa. We’re dubbing this trend Sa Pa style since Sa Pa’s Sunday market draws women from all the different tribes and villages.

We don’t think it’s going to be long before Sa Pa style makes its way onto the shelves of Anthropologie, Madewell and Zara. When it does, remember, you saw it here first!

Get some of your own Sa Pa style by shopping Bly’s vintage collection of hand-embroidered Red Dao shirts, scarves and accessories.