The 60 male kings performing in traditional Vietnamese costumes on international television is a way for the Mr World organizers to honor Vietnamese culture and spread the traditional values of the nation.
The ao dai collection by designer Tuan Hai was performed by 60 male kings and was called Thang Long Tu Tru. The motifs of dragons, phoenixes, and bronze drums were cleverly inserted by the organizers to promote Vietnamese culture internationally.
Designer Tuan Hai said he accepted the offer to cooperate with the Mr. World organizing committee at the end of October. Because he trusted the organizing committee's meticulousness, he decided to accept the challenge at the international playground, preparing 60 costumes for the male kings with different sizes and measurements.
The designer decided to handcraft 100% of the contestants’ costumes. He wanted to “do it right”, showing the meticulousness in each design.
Each dress is designed to suit contestants with different body shapes, from “big size” to those with standard figures. “I prepared about 30 big size dresses to suit contestants with large bodies. The most important thing when wearing a dress is comfort and fit,” said designer Tuan Hai.
Tuan Hai also shared that he carefully researched Vietnamese culture to incorporate into the collection. “When designing, I not only rely on my own inspiration, but also have to carefully research Vietnamese cultural symbols, such as bronze drums, Lac birds, or Asian dragons to create costumes that are not only beautiful but also imbued with cultural values,” the designer added.
After the Ao Dai competition, designer Tuan Hai said he felt happy when the traditional Ao Dai appeared on the international stage.
“As a cultural worker, who has been carrying bells to foreign lands for many years, I am very proud that this time the colors and culture of East Asia in the ao dai are fully expressed. I am proud to promote the culture of my country,” added designer Tuan Hai.
