A model showcases Mai Lam’s Tet collection at the designer’s boutique in HCMC last week

An unstoppable ambition has led local fashion designer Mai Lam to the top of her field.

While living in Australia prior to 2005, Mai – now known as Mai Lam – took a job at a hotel washing dishes but had her sights set on higher goals. She worked her way up the ranks and was soon promoted to a position that allowed her to flex her creativity. She designed and arranged table settings for large banquets and quickly began winning awards for her work. This led Mai to begin thinking about a new career direction: floral artistry. With the help of her boyfriend, Mai eventually opened up a chain of five flower shops.

Following her first entrepreneurial success, Mai set her sights even higher and decided to take on the world of fashion. She settled back in Vietnam and began designing costumes as small gifts for her friends and family. She was persuaded, however, to pursue her passion on a larger scale and in time, the up-and-coming designer established “Mai’s” fashion boutique in Ho Chi Minh City.

Her clothes reflect the beauty of Vietnam’s national culture and unique tradition while retaining a modern edge. Mai specializes in sophisticated hand-made embroidery patterns, which have proved to be immensely popular with both local and foreign customers.

“My designs reflect images of a bygone era,” says Mai. “Close your eyes and you’ll feel the beauty of life through simple things.”

Ryoko, a regular customer of Mai’s who makes frequent trips to Vietnam from Japan, says: “I love to hang out in her clothes, on any occasion, formal or informal. I enjoy wearing her Vietnamese traditional tunic (ao dai) and I recommend her shop to all my friends each time I visit Vietnam.”

The trendy designer has just launched a new line of clothing for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) season. Mai says the collection is inspired by traditional symbols of Vietnam’s past including mai, lan, cuc and truc (apricots, orchids, daisies and bamboo) as well as the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. The pieces are diverse, contemporary and youthful, says Mai.

“All I want is to draw Vietnamese youth close to their origins. The fashion trend of 2009 is wrapped in ‘creative inspiration’ and each collection tells a deep story. I want to tell the Vietnamese youth a story through my designs, in my own way,” says Mai.

The multitalented designer is also busy outlining her next vision, which is “lifestyle design.”

“I think lifestyle design is the next natural step of my career development. It could be my final finish. Not stopping at designing clothes, the creation of beauty can be found in even the tiny things in life,” says Mai.

“I also intend to make a talk show this year and publicize the culture of Vietnam abroad. I want to share with local youth all my experiences in fashion, gardening, home decor, cooking and beverage preparation, and even psychology. I will continue pursuing lifestyle design to introduce the beautiful Vietnamese values to my foreign friends.”

Mai’s design boutique is located at 132-134 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1.

Reported by Kim