Amidst a world of fashion overflowing with visual splendor, some moments touch the deepest chords of the soul. And Heritage of Origins – Old Homeland, the latest áo dài collection by designer Tommy Tường Lê, is such a moment.
Within the vibrant atmosphere of the Ao Dai Festival 2025, Tommy Tường Lê’s Heritage of Origins – Old Homeland collection captivated fashion enthusiasts with áo dài imbued with memories and cultural depth. More than just a fashion show, the collection was a symphony of emotions, a pilgrimage back to the origins of every Vietnamese person.
Drawing inspiration from the Vietnamese countryside of old, where simple thatched houses nestled beside bamboo groves, where banyan trees shaded wells, the quiet river flowed, and endless fields stretched out, Heritage of Origins – Old Homeland is a tribute in silk, thread, and color, sent back to the childhood memories of generations. The soft, traditional yet symbolically rich áo dài designs skillfully recreated a not-so-distant past’s pristine, peaceful beauty.
Opening the show, a model appeared in a silver-toned áo dài made of premium silk, creating movements like flowing water, with soft, flowing sleeves resembling the hometown river embracing childhood shores. On the fabric, traditional Vietnamese calligraphy displayed the folk verses: “Loving Father journeys upstream and down, Mother toils carrying burdens to nurture her children.”
Following the first design were áo dài adorned with verses and messages deeply imbued with love for the homeland. The words inscribed on each áo dài seemed to touch the heart, evoking images of hardworking, industrious fathers and mothers, silent figures carrying the weight of love, day by day building a childhood for their children. The designs specifically for children, presented by young models with pieces bearing the sacred words “Father” and “Mother,” were also a noteworthy highlight of Tommy Tường Lê’s latest collection.
Besides the messages of gratitude and tribute to parents, the words “Quê hương” (Homeland) appeared throughout the collection like a red thread connecting each design’s emotions, images, and spirit. Sometimes embroidered on the flowing panels of the áo dài in soft strokes like flowing water, appearing faintly in the layers of silk fluttering in the light, or on parasols, “Quê hương” was present as an unfading realm of memory. It is not only the place where we were born but also the root in our hearts, a place to return to, whether through a physical journey or nostalgia.
Without noisy pronouncements or ostentatious displays, each design in the collection was a low, gentle, yet haunting melody. Designer Tommy Tường Lê did not tell stories with words; he let the materials speak. Silk flowed like water, long sleeves draped like the winding rivers of the homeland. Each step of the model was a beat of reminiscence, each stitch a slice of memory.
Beyond the visual aspect, the catwalk music was also carefully selected, featuring gentle and familiar, poignant melodies: “Homeland, if no one remembers, one cannot grow to be a person.” And that is also the most subtle message that Heritage of Origins – Old Homeland wishes to convey: Fashion may change with trends, but the origin, the place that nurtures the soul and character, is eternally constant.
More photo:
Photo: James Giovanni
Hair & Makeup: Travis Vu, Huong Vu, Phi Ngoc Nguyễn
Áo dài: Tommy Le
Jewelry: Yen Jeweler
Production: Ao Dai Festival 2025