Vietnamese designer Trung Đinh allows affordable ao dai reprints to spread tradition

Fashion designer and artisan Trung Đinh is allowing select ao dai designs to be reprinted for mass-market sale. He registered his collections' copyrights and intellectual property rights but observed widespread copying and unauthorized commercialization of his work.

Đinh aims to spread the beauty of the Vietnamese ao dai to a wider audience. He permits printing workshops nationwide to use and reprint certain designs for affordable ao dai, provided they maintain the original design integrity. Modifications, alterations, or misrepresentation of the original composition, color, or spirit are prohibited.

The designer emphasized that reprinted ao dai must clearly credit Trung Đinh – TRUNGDINH SILK as the original designer. Sales are strictly limited to the affordable segment, serving customers who cannot access premium products. Individuals and workshops are forbidden from using the designs to build their own brands or promote them as original creations.

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Áo dài in lại phải ghi rõ nguồn gốc là thiết kế gốc nhà thiết kế Trung Đinh - TRUNGDINH SILK và chỉ được kinh doanh ở phân khúc phổ thông, phục vụ nhóm khách hàng chưa có điều kiện tiếp cận các dòng sản phẩm cao cấp.

Đinh explained that his premium ao dai are made from high-quality silk, involving meticulous dyeing, hand-painting, and finishing processes by artisans, with some designs requiring hundreds of hours to complete. He hopes the beauty of Vietnamese ao dai can reach more people, allowing more Vietnamese to wear and take pride in their traditional attire.

However, Đinh affirmed his intent to pursue legal measures against those who copy without attribution, make unauthorized alterations, or use his designs for high-end commercial purposes, deviating from his original intention. He has dedicated 14 years to fashion, focusing on traditional ao dai to promote Vietnamese cultural identity globally. He is also pioneering techniques like ombre silk dyeing and realistic painting on silk, and is involved in a community project called 'Silk Singing on Shoulders' to promote silk painting and ao dai.

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Chúng tôi mong muốn vẻ đẹp của áo dài Việt Nam có cơ hội được lan tỏa rộng rãi hơn, để nhiều người Việt có thể tiếp cận, mặc đẹp và tự hào với trang phục truyền thống.