The final round of the Young Designers Award 2025 took place on the morning of 29/11/2024 at Lotte Legend, Ho Chi Minh City, as part of the An Phuoc - Pierre Cardin 2025 fashion event series. During the workshop phase, the 32 contestants had the opportunity to work directly with Mr. Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin, CEO and President of La Maison Pierre Cardin, and the brand's international designers.

Contestants received feedback, knowledge, and practical experience from the French creators on their preliminary sketches, learning to transform their drawings into professional fashion concepts.

Contestants focused on refining their sketches during the final round of the Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award 2025. Photo: An Phuoc

Mr. Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin praised the potential and dedication of the young designers. He stated that beyond finding talent aligned with Pierre Cardin's distinct characteristics, the competition serves as an opportunity for the brand to connect more deeply with Vietnamese youth, thereby fostering new creative inspiration for the brand.

"Upon receiving the submissions, we noted the serious investment by the contestants. Through the workshop, we sought not only their ability to learn the Pierre Cardin spirit but also the natural, instinctive creative tendencies of each individual contestant", Mr. Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin explained.

President Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin (second from left) and the expert advisory board reviewed contestants' sketches and design ideas in the final round. Photo: An Phuoc

A few days later, at the Pierre Cardin Fashion Show 2025, Mr. Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin announced Tran Thi A Khin, a student from Van Lang University, as the winner. She received 50 million VND and a three-month internship opportunity at the La Maison Pierre Cardin headquarters in France, a stepping stone on her professional creative path.

Nguyen Tran Phuc An secured second place, receiving 30 million VND and a three-month internship at An Phuoc company. The third-place winner was Trinh Xuan Duy, who received 10 million VND.

Mr. Tran Minh Khoa, a representative of An Phuoc Garment, Embroidery, and Shoe Co., Ltd., remarked that the Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award, organized for the first time in Vietnam, offers young people a chance to showcase their creative identity and learn professional working processes from the Pierre Cardin team.

"For An Phuoc, this is a special milestone in our journey of accompanying the Vietnamese fashion industry to reach international recognition. Seeing the 32 contestants work in the workshop, we are proud that they are all contributing to elevating our nation's fashion", Mr. Minh Khoa added.

During their day working with the creative team of an international fashion house, the contestants demonstrated an open mind, a willingness to experiment, and no hesitation in incorporating local cultural elements into their designs.

Nguyen Trang Quynh My, a student from RMIT, emphasized sustainable materials and Vietnamese culture. "I not only brought my personal story but also wanted to highlight Vietnamese culture and history. My concept revolves around the Vietnamese language, Quoc Ngu (Vietnamese script), ancient French architectural buildings, and lacquer painting techniques", Quynh My shared.

Meanwhile, champion Tran Thi A Khin stated that she combined her personal style with Pierre Cardin's distinctive language, hoping to collaborate with the international team to find more effective creative solutions.

The winning contestants of the Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award 2025. Photo: An Phuoc

The Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award is an annual competition that serves as a launchpad for many young global fashion designers to access international working environments and creative standards. Held for the first time in Vietnam with An Phuoc's partnership, this platform helps young talent gain hands-on experience with systematic design processes and contemporary aesthetic thinking.

In addition to the competition, the organizers also hosted two other events: the An Phuoc Conscious Traveler Show on 30/11/2024, celebrating An Phuoc's 32nd anniversary; and the Pierre Cardin Fashion Show 2025 on 1/12/2024, marking Pierre Cardin's 75th birthday.

Dong Ve