Q: So, how did it start?

A: Let’s see. When I was 15 I always had these fantasies about fashion. I looked at magazines, the way my mum dressed and the people around me. Then it came to the point when I just wanted to do something about it so badly, I had to make my clothes look better, more exciting and have a personal touch.

I dropped out of high-school when I was in 11th grade, because I applied to college in Los Angeles with my own portfolio and I got accepted. I then went straight to college and majored in fashion design.

In 2007 I won my first prize for my designs. An evening dress I designed won first place in a contest run by Fashion Group International (FGI) and earned me $2,000.

I moved to New York, but before I did that, I was invited to go on the Tyra Banks Show and chatted with the talk show host for 15 minutes.

Q: How did you get to do that?

A: My portfolio was sent to the Tyra Banks Show and she picked eight people, two of whom would get to do the show – me and another girl. I was 19 at the time, and I remember exactly the date they broadcast it, May 16 2007.

Q: What happened in New York?

A: I worked as Assistant Designer for the label ARAKS which makes organic lingerie worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba and such. I did a Fall-Winter collection with them too. At the same time I worked with different photographers as a fashion stylist.

Q: Why did you come back to Viet Nam?

A: Viet Nam is such a potential market. That’s why I decided to come back. Plus, I prefer to have my name coming from Viet Nam to the world, not the other way around. I am Vietnamese.

Q: What are you doing here?

A: I’m opening my first boutique in Dong Khoi soon, in July. And I also have my business partner in Ha Noi, Tan My Design.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

A: My plan for the next 2-5 years is to expand my label – Huy Vo. And I’d like to do the Viet Nam Fashion Week, to present myself as a Vietnamese designer to the international market. Also, I’m planning on exporting my label as a Vietnamese label to be recognized at least in the region, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, maybe. Right now I have buyers from New York and Hong Kong who are looking at my evening gowns.

Q: What do you think brought you the success?

A: People always say there’s 80-90 per cent luck and the rest is talent in every success story. I was always lucky too, with all the people I met and the help they gave me. But I also think that what brought me all the success was my self-confidence. I do what I want and I don’t care what people say. I just do it.

Also, it’s fortunate I got to work with a wedding dressmaker and a lingerie maker and they taught me so much about how to construct a dress and work with the garments and such.

Q: Tell us a little bit more about Tyra Banks. What was she like in real life?

A: When I got the call telling me “you’re in!” I was so happy. That was like the happiest moment and so I spent three days on the clothes I was gonna show. I didn’t see her until the day we recorded the show and I didn’t have that much time to talk to her. But when I walked into the set and saw her, I was like: “Oh my God!” I was this 19-year-old Vietnamese boy and I was standing right in front of one of the world’s fashion icons.

She was really pretty and nice in person and down to earth and she was fun. She was making jokes on screen, off screen while we were chatting for a moment before she went to record for another show. I only spent 10 minutes talking to Tyra Banks but it was a moment to remember.

You can see the clip on youtube.com, but don’t tell anyone I put it there (laugh).

Q: So is she prettier in person?

A: It’s really hard to say. You always see this Tyra Banks with really strong and tough attitude in photos but she’s really down to earth in person and very funny on the show.

Q: Of all the places you’ve been to, including Ireland where you attended the wedding of your first wedding dress customer, which place do you think most influenced your sense of style and design?

A: My designs are all about French style: sophisticated, chic and simple. But I think New York affected me the most, with all the art exhibitions, the museums, and the Broadway shows.

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