Domestic clothing companies are holding their own against famous international
brands, with new brandnames catching the attention of customers.

Step it up: No longer just acting as subcontractors to foreign partners, domestic apparel companies are lifting the profile of Vietnamese-made fashion in the local market. — File Photo

Eternity Gruz and
Manhattan are two luxury brands that claim to be giving customers a style.

Young designers for
Eternity Gruz, a brand owned by the garment company May 10, combine luxury and
practicality at their shops in big cities.

With more than 30
designs every season, Eternity Gruz offers items from VND500,000 (US$25) to over
VND1 million ($50).

Limited edition items
under the name Eternity Gruz provide a taste of global fashion trends.

The shop’s high-end
shirts are pricey, at over VND900,000 ($45), but locals with deep pockets are
thrilled that sophisticated designs can now be found at a Vietnamese shop.

“Our products are
trendy, high-quality, and the prices are suited to their quality,” said Than Duc
Viet, director of the May 10 Garment Company. Viet and his staff spent time
researching foreign brands in Viet Nam before launching their designs.

Other garment
companies have also upgraded their goods. Garment company Viet Tien offers
Manhattan at 26 shops in HCM City, which provides casual and officewear
collections for men and women.

A full range of
accessories of belts, scarves and ties are offered as well as clothing in
high-grade materials like silk, satin and crepe.

While Viet Tien’s
popular clothing line starts at VND100,000 ($6), Manhattan’s customers should be
prepared to pay between VND400,000-2 million per item.

“The fashion industry
is a promising market for any garment company,” Vu Duc Giang, chairman of Viet
Nam Textile and Garment Association, said.

“New labels by
companies like Viet Tien, May 10, Nha Be and Phuong Dong will help popularise
and diversify Vietnamese products in the local market. They will not just act as
subcontractors to foreign partners,” he said.

Phuong Dong, one of
HCM City’s leading garment companies, began its ready-to-wear fashion label F
House in 2000 after spending time researching the country’s fashion industry as
well as living and consumer conditions.

The company has
invested in production lines and human resources, and has hired professional
fashion and graphic designers.

Phuong Dong’s managing
board intends to build F House into a luxury brand serving the local market.

Like Phuong Dong, the
Thanh Cong Garment Company was also popular for its processing business, but is
now considered a fashion house.

Thanh Cong’s label TCM
offers shirts, trousers and T-shirts, all selling at a chain of 21 shops in HCM
City and Ha Noi, with designs for customers aged 18 to 35.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News