Hoa Sen University Student Showcases Talent at APLF Hong Kong 2026
While families come together to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse, Ms. Phan Nguyen Hoai Thuong, a fashion design student at Hoa Sen University, is embracing Tet in her “own way”.
Despite being at home, she has little time to immerse herself in the festivities fully. Instead, she is concentrating on completing her graduation project while preparing a product for APLF Hong Kong 2026, a premier leather and fashion trade exhibition in Asia.
Exceptional Achievements by HSU Fashion Design Students
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Horse, Ms. Phan Nguyen Hoai Thuong, a fashion design student at Hoa Sen University (HSU), continues dedicating herself to her needlework.
“In previous years, I would help my mother prepare the Tet feast or join my parents in cleaning and decorating the house. However, this year, I asked for their understanding to “postpone” those familiar traditions so I could fully focus on two important goals. Perhaps because of that, this feels like the most bittersweet Lunar New Year I have ever experienced”, she noted.
This year, Tet looks very different for Hoai Thuong. While others embrace spring outings and festive visits, she has chosen to stay focused, pouring all her energy into perfecting a product for an upcoming international competition.
The drive behind this decision comes from her recent success: at the end of 2025, she claimed First Prize at the Design-A-Bag Vietnam Talent Edition, part of the Design-A-Bag 2026 competition organized by APLF ASEAN.
This prestigious international competition connects students with real-world industry opportunities and opens pathways for Vietnamese talent to reach the global stage. Winning First Prize in the competition opened doors for Hoai Thuong to gain valuable experience, expand her learning, and compete on major international platforms.
Furthermore, in March 2026, she will represent Viet Nam as the only sponsored attendee at APLF Hong Kong 2026, Asia’s largest and most influential leather fashion exhibition. Ranking among the top three contestants, she secures a spot in an 8-day leatherworking course at LEATHER Academy (Ninh Binh) in July 2026, sponsored by Simona Tanning.
Following the competition in Viet Nam, Hoai Thuong and two other designers, also HSU students, will participate in the global Design-A-Bag Competition 2026, competing with contestants from many countries around the world.
The overall winner of the international competition will receive a design scholarship at Arsutoria School (Milan, Italy), a prestigious school specializing in leather and fashion design.
Recognized as Asia’s premier international exhibition for leather and fashion accessories, APLF (Asia Pacific Leather Fair) has been shaping the global industry since 1984. Held annually in Hong Kong, it brings together leading brands, manufacturers, designers, and suppliers, creating a dynamic platform for collaboration, commerce, and innovation.
Parents – Life’s Greatest Teachers
Despite the pressure to deliver presentations in English and produce sample bags within an extremely tight timeframe of just one month, she maintains remarkable composure and discipline.
The trip to Hong Kong in March is not merely a competition, but also the first time the young designer brings the results of four years of hard work and “self-reliance” to an international stage. She hopes the international judges will appreciate the vision of a young Vietnamese designer: modern yet grounded, individualistic yet compassionate.
Sharing how she fell in love with fashion design, Hoai Thuong smiled brightly and admitted that she took a big gamble in her last year of high school. Having nurtured a passion for design since childhood, she recognized that pursuing this path would entail significant financial, temporal, and personal investment, and that attaining success would require considerable effort and perseverance.
“In my last year of high school, I was in two minds, struggling to choose between a stable career and the unpredictable world of the arts. Luckily, that year I entered the Future Designer competition and won first prize. The victory fueled my determination. Then, I immersed myself in competitions and activities to enhance my portfolio, which ultimately helped me gain admission to HSU with a full scholarship for all four years”, she commented.
To maintain her scholarship, Hoai Thuong must consistently strive for strong academic results and actively participate in extracurricular activities each year. At the same time, she gains practical experience and supports her living expenses by teaching drawing and working part-time in graphic design.
Reflecting on her early achievements, the HSU young designer emphasized the invaluable guidance of her two greatest mentors.
“Even though my father is strict and my mother tends to be more lenient, they have always respected my choices”, she shared.
From her mother, she learned the importance of always exploring new experiences and facing challenges confidently. Moreover, she pointed out that her mother only truly found her passion and became a writer after the age of 40, a realization that helped Thuong understand: “Discovering our passion early is advantageous, but if it comes later, that is perfectly fine. We should remain aware, curious, and open to growth”.
She also acknowledged that, at this stage, she is not yet sufficiently experienced to establish a business.
“After completing my studies, I intend to pursue either advanced education or work for leading brands. I believe it is important not to follow the fast-changing trends of the fashion industry. I aim to design elegant and contemporary pieces that are subtle but possess lasting practical value”, Hoai Thuong claimed.
Source: nld.com.vn
