Change is scary - especially when dealing with the unknown. Yet, change can also be an opportunity to grow and try something different. This is certainly the case for Vietnamese fashion brand Subtle Le Nguyen, which was launched by co-founders Viet Nhat Nguyen and Le Thuy Giang in 2015 as Subtle & Simple, to pay homage to Vietnamese craftsmanship.
Nguyen was raised in Hanoi, where he was often considered the "odd one out" due to his unusual sense of style. "People wore skinny jeans to school [while] gravitated towards baggy and looser cuts," he recalls. "And I got bullied for it. I didn't care though - I just wanted to wear what I wanted." The designer initially dreamed of being a music producer, but he eventually turned to fashion due to his fascination with textiles and patterns.
While in university in the early 2010s, Nguyen met Giang through mutual friends as they both shared an interest in fashion and beauty. At that time, modern yet affordable fashion brands in Vietnam didn't really exist. "It was either very high-end luxury or mass market [brands] in Vietnam," explains Nguyen. Seeing a gap there, the pair decided to start their own fashion brand, calling it Subtle & Simple. "I just felt the urge to create something that fused traditional ways of garment-making with new techniques something that wasn't done at the time,"
Bu hikaye ELLE Singapore dergisinin January 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye ELLE Singapore dergisinin January 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Check mate
For DIOR's cruise 2025 collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri weaves Scottish heritage into modern fashion, creating a dialogue between tradition and rebellion.
Glow-Up Goals
Expert-approved aesthetic treatments to get you looking refreshed, natural, and party-ready.
All The Right Notes
Singapore’s biggest Mandopop star to date, JJ LIN reflects on his two-decade career before embarking on the final leg of his world tour.
Dubai: Capital Of The Future
The most visited megalopolis in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a vibrant oasis of modernity; a hotbed of exciting new openings and endless plans.
ARTFUL Indulgence
Le Pristine Singapore IS THE NEW EPICUREAN ESCAPE FOR ART AND DESIGN AFICIONADOS.
Talk of the Town
Miu Miu CONTINUES DEEPENING ITS TIES TO THE art world WITH A PROJECT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER FILM, MOVEMENT AND CONVERSATION.
See Her At N°5
Margot Robbie embodies timeless chic as the new face of Chanel N°5. In this ELLE exclusive, the actress shares her take on the iconic scent.
A closer look at...
You don’t have to be a Warhammer or Arthurian legend geek to appreciate Roger Dubuis’ latest Knights of the Round Table timepiece.
BLUE Paradise
With the support of Rolex and Mission Blue, the Nusa Penida Hope Spot has become a sterling example of ocean conservation.
Counting the Métiers
In this ELLE Singapore exclusive, artistic director of watches and jewellery Francesca Amfitheatrof lays bare what goes into the making a LOUIS VUITTON high jewellery collection.
