Xuan-Thu Nguyen is all about creating and exploring her craft. Based in Paris with her own company, XUAN, she is making her way up in the fashion world, with her inspired, environmentally-conscious designs. Recently, she launched her Fall 2020 collection; a germination of sartorial vibrancy, striking arrays of ruffles, colours, and cotton shrouding her models’ heads in a thick bloom of fabric. After such an incredible display, we decided to catch up with her on her career and journey into the fashion industry…

1. How did you start out?

I started straight away from fashion school with PAP deluxe. In 2016, I got invited to be a member of the Federation de La Haute Couture et Mode.

2. What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from my inner feelings or conflicts. My collections are a reflection, a visual diary without any verbal communication. Verbal communication is not my strongest point.

The outlook of the collections might variate from time to time. Sometimes a few collections overlap each other.  It is easier now to look back and see the development of my personality. It might not be understandable to most people/ fashion critics. But it makes sense to me.

It has helped me grow, in fashion and as a person.

She launched her Fall 2020 collection; a germination of sartorial vibrancy, striking arrays of ruffles, colours, and cotton shrouding her models’ heads in a thick bloom of fabric

3. Many of your designs feature masks. How do you feel they contribute to the outfit?

It is a part of the story/image you want to show. Masks for me are not about hiding, but actually about putting yourself out there.. It is a part of your inner expression. For me it takes bravery to put up a masks.

4. How important is photography in displaying your outfits?

 It is very important. It is how you want to portray your story.

5. Which other fashion designers do you admire?

Every designer has their own style. and I think you need to respect their way of designing and creating.

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6. How has the coronavirus affected your work?

Work-wise not that much. I spend most of my time in the atelier, as I prefer to work in there. I’m not really a social person.

Creative-wise, the world being calmer makes me so much more at ease and peace to think and create. I love it!

7. What advice would you give to designers starting out?

I think fashion critics ask too much of designers, season after season. Fashion needs to be your passion, if not don’t start your own label. If your main goal is to make it big in this industry quick, you might be disappointed. My advice is to do what you love to do and believe in it and ask yourself, am I willing to give it my all? But that being said, it can apply to any other creative branch you choose to go down.

Social media is a big influence in everything at the moment. It can make you or break you. You can’t go around it nowadays. It is sort of impregnated in our day-to-day lives.

To be ahead of the game, for me, is to stay true to yourself, don’t try to be more than you are. People will see through it. Be transparent and don’t go along with trends. You need to have real values and integrity to be able to establish real connections.

The biggest challenge to have you own company is to keep going and believe in yourself. And being creative with what you have to make things happen and staying positive at the same time.

Fashion is hard.

To be honest, my collections may not always be perfect or the way it should have come out. But season in and out, we have put out a collection with the budget, struggles which I think everyone can relate to in this business.

Doing what I believe in and staying focused to my own values and truths is what is important to me.

8. Have you got any future projects lined up?  

I try to use as much stock fabric as possible in my collection and maintaining the work process with people that share the same values.

There is way too much not used/produced designs and collections brought out every season.

Doing what I believe in and staying focused to my own values and truths is what is important to me

I always believe in producing what is necessary, being creative does not mean the need to show a huge collection. If people can’t see it in a few pieces then that wont change if you are presenting them a big collection. I like people to use their imagination, push themselves.

And because we have our own atelier, we can produce any demand as quick as possible. When there is a demand, we provide. It makes much more sense!

To take it one step further, we are now launching a new label this September that is entirely to do with upcycling and sustainability. This allows XUAN to take more steps as part of ‘the waste of fashion’. We already started last year, but now we are doing this entirely on our own, so we have control of the values and integrity of the brand.

Fashion is still in her old way of thinking, demands and producing.

To find out more about XUAN, you can either…

Go to their website: https://xuan-paris.com/

Or head on over to their Instagram: @xuan_paris

All images and videos come directly from their Instagram and YouTube. This was not paid.