Designer Nguyen Minh Duc: "I am Vietnamese, but my imagination doesn't need a passport."

From his “ MORALITY ” collection at Fashion Week Asia 2026 (FWA), designer Nguyen Minh Duc – founder of DUC STUDIO, valedictorian of the Fashion Design major at Hoa Sen University – attracted the attention of international fashion media, receiving simultaneous attention from prestigious magazines such as Vogue Philippines , WWD Korea, Allure… with his distinctive approach to contemporary Vietnamese fashion.

Not only did he incorporate familiar Vietnamese clothing styles into a new design language, but he also offered a thought-provoking perspective: identity doesn't necessarily have to be affirmed by easily recognizable cultural symbols, but can be present in the way the designer thinks, observes, and perceives the world .

An equal dialogue with international fashion languages.

What do you appreciate most about "MORALITY" – the collection that recently made a splash at FWA 2026?

What I appreciate most about the "MORALITY" collection isn't a specific design, but the fact that I was able to transform very personal questions into a complete collection. "MORALITY" speaks to the gray area between good and evil, between what we are taught to be and the true instincts within each of us. I've always found human beings fascinating in those contradictions.

In this collection, I explore familiar images of Vietnamese life, especially traditional garments like the ao dai and ao ba ba, and place them within a new visual language through techniques such as deconstruction, denim, tailoring, and unconventional proportions.

When “MORALITY” was performed at FWA 2026 in the Philippines and received attention from international media, of course I was very happy. My greatest feelings were gratitude for the people who helped me turn the idea into reality. I think the most interesting thing is not how far we have come, but that from things very close to Vietnamese life, we can still tell a story that people from many cultures can relate to.