AO DAI PROJECT

Hi, my name is Donny and I'm the creator of Viet Q. I'm a producer/filmmaker/screenwriter/illustrator working on several cool projects. I say cool because thats how I judge my projects on. If I think 'Hey thats COOL!' then I want to work be working on it. Hence the 'cool' factor. You can reach me at [email protected] if you please.

Why Viet Q? Oh you inquisitive person you. Well, while traveling to Vietnam, this is what they call Vietnamese that are Americanized I guess. However what they REALLY were saying was Viet KIEU, and me being able to understand maybe 50% of Vietnamese thought they were calling me VIET Q, which I responded to them, "I love the letter Q too".
Currently, I am filming a documentary on the Ao Dai: History/Process/Present Day. I have titled it either 'THE ART OF THE AO DAI" or "DONNY'S QUEST TO FIND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AO DAI EVER". I have filmed some of the Top Designers in Vietnam and is continuing my filming in America however I do not know any designers in America. Here is where I might need your help.
So far, I have filmed Si Hoang, Lien Huong, Ngo Thai Uyen and many others. My overall goal is to provide people with the history along w/ really really beautiful images. Hey, you can't go wrong w/ that right?

Directors Statement: (thats um, me)
Why make a documentary on the Ao Dai? It all started with a n exhibition of the Ao Dai in San Jose (http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/aoDai_exhibit.htm). Every time I went back to Vietnam, I learned a little more of Vietnam's history and nothing symbolizes Vietnam more then the Ao Dai. Also, there is not much documentation in Vietnam and everday a little more history is lost
This is an independent project with the help of UCLA extension classes, which I can hopefully find more funding for.
More info at:
www.aodaiproject.wordpress.com
(Donny Tran filming Kieu Linh at San Jose Ao Dai Exhibit)
More info at:
www.aodaiproject.wordpress.com
Timeline of the Ao Dai:

- 1744 when Lord Vu Vuong of the Nguyen Dynasty decreed both men and women should wear an ensemble of trousers and a gown that buttoned down the front.

- 1935, Lemur Nguyen Cat Tuong’s “modern ao dai” made its apparition. It had puffed out shoulders, cuffed sleeves, a round collar cut breast-deep and laced, a corrugated fringe made of joined cloth of different colors and gaudily laced.

- 1939-1945 period there was a conflict on a esthetic concept, resulting in the restoration of the traditional ao dai. Young girls’ collar was from 4 cm to 7 cm high, the roundness of which was ensured by a stipt starching, the flaps were of a broad width

- 1950s two tailors in Saigon, Tran Kim of Thiet Lap Tailors and Dung of Dung Tailors, started producing the gowns with raglan sleeves. This creates a diagonal seam running from the collar to the underarm and today, this style is still preferred.

- 1958 and 1959, Madam Ngo Dinh Nhu’s low-necked, decollete ao dai was launched.

- 1971, the raglan-sleeve ao dai renovated by Mrs. Tuyet Mai overcame the wrinkling short comings at the shoulders and the armpits.

- 1970’s to 1975 it was the period at mini and hippy ao dai widely worn with tights and flares until 1989. The first ao dai beauty contest was restored under the communist regime since 1975 and the traditional ao dai returned to its suave beauty of old times. All young ladies were encouraged to wear the white ao dai to school which has been banned since 1975 after the falling of Saigon. All such contests as school beauty, sports beauty has been organized everywhere in the country, ao dai is the main category in these contests.

- 1982 Tram Kim, known as Mr. Ao Dai shifted to California and opened a new branch of Thiet Lap Tailors in Garden Grove, Orange County, leaving his Saigon store to his son.

- There are even annual Miss Ao Dai pageants held and the prestigious Long Beach show attracts entrants from across the country. The clothing has also inspired French designers including top names such as Christian Lacroix and Claude Montana, and variations of the tight sleeves, fitted bodice, high collar and flowing trousers have been seen on the catwalks of Europe. Now only the Tien Phong Newspaper beauty contest is considered the official national contest and who is crowned from this contest become the national beauty queen and she will represent the country in all diplomatic occasions. This contest has been official started in 1992 and repeated every two year sine then ( 1994, 1996, 1998).

* Ha Kieu Anh, Miss Vietnam 1992-1993
* Nguyen Thu Thuy, Miss Vietnam 1994-1995
* Nguyen Thien Nga, Miss Vietnam 1996-1997
* Nguyen Thi Dong Khanh, Miss Vietnam 1998-1999
1995 was the crowing year for the national ao dai. Truong Quynh Mai’s ao dai was chosen the most beautiful national apparel in Tokyo. 1995 renovated ao dai model suits well modern times, and is more beautiful at it’s tightened at the breast, waist and back, its collar evenly circling round from 4 cm to 7 cm high, the sleeves just tighten the arms. Velvet ao dai, embroidered, painted and printed with flower pattern have created even more exquisite beauty features allowing Vietnam’s ao dai to take off ever higher.

- The gown length appears to be gradually shortening and today is usually just below the knee. Variations in the neck, between boat and mandarin style, are common and even adventurous alterations such as a low scooped neckline, puffed sleeves or off the shoulder designs are appearing as ladies experiment with fashion. Colors are no longer as rigidly controlled and access to new fabrics has created some dazzling results.