VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Tran Da Thao will represent Vietnam in the international competition entitled ‘International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2008-09’ scheduled to be organised in UK in early February by British Council.

The prizes were awarded at the ‘Dep’ Fashion Show on October 4 at Culture and Friendship Palace in Hanoi.

In the competition in the UK, Thao will compete with candidates from nine different countries for the title of ‘International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2009’, where the winner will be awarded with a prizes valued at around GBP7,500. A two-week trip to the UK will offer her a great opportunity to network and take part in interesting events which will bring her into contact with leading fashion experts and business partners from the UK and other countries. The trip will culminate in the chance to participate in one of the highlights of the fashion calendar; ‘London Fashion Week’.

Ha Linh Thu, a well-know young fashion entrepreneur and designer from Hanoi, won the second prize which is an English scholarship with the British Council worth US $310.

To win this prize, Thao worked hard to defeat six other talented candidates in a challenging process which required applicants to deliver a 20-minute presentation containing written and visual material about their work, their understanding of, and vision for the fashion sector in the country. This was followed by a 15 minute Q&A session with the judges. Both parts required candidates to use English. The judges included British Council Director Alison Ball; Assistant Director, British Council Ho Chi Minh City Bui Thi Nhu Huyen; Nguyen Cong Tri, director of his own fashion business company and leading designer in Vietnam; Ms Charlie Rollo-Walker, director and designer and entrepreneur with her own company ‘A Right Charlie’.

‘The prize is a starting favourable step for me to continue pursuing my fashion business development because it is my passion, striving goal…This is really an opportunity for me to self-assess my business aptitude, helping release my mind from ‘old’ thoughts and open new directions in business, especially building capacity of international cooperation,” revealed Thao when she was informed about her competition result.

(Source: ND)