About Alis Collection
Alis Collection grew out of a love for the áo dài that began where I did — in Huế, the old imperial city that has always been close to the heart of Vietnam’s national dress.
I was born and raised in Huế in an ordinary family; my parents ran a small stall at Đông Ba Market. My love for the áo dài, though, came from my grandfather. He was a tailor, and the áo dài was his craft. I still remember him staying up through the night to finish an áo dài whenever a customer needed it in a hurry — and from a young age, I was right there helping him.
After school, I would sit with him and sew for customers from eight in the evening until midnight. We weren’t well off back then, so we simply worked hard. Those quiet, late hours at the sewing machine are where I learned to love every seam and fold of the áo dài.
I went on to study a different field, but the eye and the hands stayed with me. I can still make an áo dài myself — I’m not a couture designer, and I won’t pretend to be, but I can promise a piece that fits well and suits almost anyone who wears it.
Today, I keep learning. I research the áo dài’s history and the many styles worn now — women’s áo dài, modern (cách tân) áo dài, men’s, children’s, and wedding áo dài — and I keep exploring Vietnamese culture, the evolution of our fashion, and our people, because I am Vietnamese and this is part of who I am.
I started this blog for two simple reasons: to record what is truly worth knowing about the Vietnamese áo dài, and to share my own ongoing journey with it. I keep some of my personal life private, but what I can promise in every guide is honesty and care.
Áo dài is more than a dress; it’s a thread that ties me to my family, my city, and my country — and I’m glad to explore it with you.
— Alis, Huế
