6 Expat-Owned Fashion Brands To Know In Ho Chi Minh City | Vietcetera
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Nov 24, 2021
Fashion

6 Expat-Owned Fashion Brands To Know In Ho Chi Minh City

Shopaholics in Saigon will surely love these cool brands established by expat entrepreneurs.

6 Expat-Owned Fashion Brands To Know In Ho Chi Minh City

Brands established by expat community | Source: Eleanor

Ho Chi Minh City, the commercial center of Vietnam, has long been a dreamland for entrepreneurs for its dynamism and the opportunities it offers.

Coming from various different home countries, several of the city’s entrepreneurial expats infusing their homeland’s spirit and inspiration into their products while also exploring and putting a lot of Vietnamese elements in to offer the best experience to their local customers.

From fashion, we’ve rounded up six of Saigon’s best expat-owned brands worth getting to know. 

Dynasty The Label

Established in October 2019, Dynasty The Label has made a mark in fashion with positive reception not only in Vietnam but also in the international market. At the head of the company is Kim Berhanu, an Australian citizen of mixed Vietnamese-Ethiopian descent. Kimmie started making clothes for herself when she moved to Vietnam. Encouraged by her friends and family, Kimmie founded Dynasty The Label.

Kim Berhanu – Founder of Dynasty The Label | Source: Dynasty the Label
Kim Berhanu – Founder of Dynasty The Label | Source: Dynasty the Label

If you are drawn to glitzy, regal outfits, Dynasty The Label may resonate with your fashion taste. The brand's designs are a combination of modern fashion and traditional costumes inspired by the history and culture of Vietnam and Ethiopia. Find one-of-a-kind bomber jackets, crop tops, jumpsuits, and even bibs — all handmade.

Since Dynasty The Label pursues slow fashion and sustainability and doesn’t do massive production, customers have to be patient with their orders. But for a Dynasty garment, it’s always worth the wait!

Featured products:

Heaven's Gate Women's 2 Sided Bomber is made with brocade fabric, featuring Dragon and Phoenix motif | Source: Dynasty the Label
Heaven's Gate Women's 2 Sided Bomber is made with brocade fabric, featuring Dragon and Phoenix motif | Source: Dynasty the Label
Lion Dancer Hooded Jumpsuit inspired by the Lion and Dragon dance — a traditional performance to bring good look and fortune | Source: Dynasty the Label
Lion Dancer Hooded Jumpsuit inspired by the Lion and Dragon dance — a traditional performance to bring good look and fortune | Source: Dynasty the Label
Ancient Dreamer Shirt inspired by traditional men's clothing in Ethiopia. | Source: Dynasty the Label
Ancient Dreamer Shirt inspired by traditional men's clothing in Ethiopia. | Source: Dynasty the Label

Website | Instagram 

Wildfrika

Modern African fashion often incorporates traditional patterns and colorways — allowing garments to tell unique stories about the continent's culture and heritage. On a trip to Ghana, Mira Wild, the founder of Wildfrika, rekindled her love for mysterious African fashion and fabrics. That fateful trip has laid the foundation for the official birth of Wildfrika, which she identifies as an Afro-Asian brand. Wildfrika aims to convey the liberal fashion spirit of Africa through safari textures as well as colorful and striking flowers and leaves.

Mira Wild in Wildfrika’s clothes | Source: Wildfrika
Mira Wild in Wildfrika’s clothes | Source: Wildfrika

Featured products:

Leopard chiffon dress with safari and wildlife patterns | Source: Wildfrika
Leopard chiffon dress with safari and wildlife patterns | Source: Wildfrika
A patch of African rainforest | Source: Wildfrika
A patch of African rainforest | Source: Wildfrika
Vibrant and colorful designs are at the heart of Wildfrika | Source: Wildfrika
Vibrant and colorful designs are at the heart of Wildfrika | Source: Wildfrika

Website | Instagram 

Mene Vietnam

Lisa and Amanda, two friends from France, spent many months researching and designing period underwear that would be suitable for the body shape of Vietnamese women. Although considered somewhat new in Asia, menstrual underwear is more well-known in the West. They look like regular pants, but have a special gusset system, which is designed for maximum absorbency.

These pants are a perfect replacement for disposable sanitary pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. This environmentally-friendly product is also suitable for women of all ages, making their menstrual period less inconvenient. Mene offers four styles available online. 

Period pants are stylish and a perfect alternative to tampons. | Source: Mene Vietnam
Period pants are stylish and a perfect alternative to tampons. | Source: Mene Vietnam

Product featured:

Sexy period pants – worth one sanitary pad | Source: Mene Vietnam
Sexy period pants – worth one sanitary pad | Source: Mene Vietnam
Sports period pants – worth two pads | Source: Mene Vietnam
Sports period pants – worth two pads | Source: Mene Vietnam
Comfortable period pants – worth three pads | Source: Mene Vietnam
Comfortable period pants – worth three pads | Source: Mene Vietnam

Website | Instagram  

Adore You Handmade Jewelry

If you are into handmade earrings to keep up with the clay accessories trend on TikTok, then Adore You Handmade Jewelry is the brand for you. Zuzana Kyzeková, a Slovak student, living in Vietnam with her family, founded Adore You Handmade Jewelry as a small business in an effort to raise enough money for her dream university tuition.

At Adore You Handmade Jewelry, you can find a wide range of earring designs inspired by nature. If you want a custom design uniquely made for you, just send a picture or explain your idea and Zuzana can turn it into a real piece of art. (Note: Zuzana doesn’t speak Vietnamese, so for Vietnamese customers, it’s better to give her your preferred design inspiration through photos). 

Zuzana Kyzeková - founder of Adore You Handmade Jewelry | Source: Adore You Handmade
Zuzana Kyzeková - founder of Adore You Handmade Jewelry | Source: Adore You Handmade

Featured products:

Eye-catching food-shaped earrings | Source: Adore You Handmade
Eye-catching food-shaped earrings | Source: Adore You Handmade
Source: Adore You Handmade
Source: Adore You Handmade

Coconut Religion

With a background in the high-end beauty industry, Maggie Shen established her own coconut “religion" in Vietnam in November 2018. Coconut Religion takes handcrafted coconut oil to the next level with a premium product called “Jungle to Jar”. This is probably one of the pioneers in creating coconut cream with different scents. According to Shen, a jar of coconut butter can replace 13-15 beauty products, which is convenient for travelers who want to reduce their packing essentials. 

Maggie Shen and her premium coconut skincare products | Source: Coconut Religious
Maggie Shen and her premium coconut skincare products | Source: Coconut Religious

​​Their two main products, the "Jungle to Jar" lip balm and body lotion, are handcrafted in the coconut jungles of Ben Tre, using only organic coconut oil and essential oil botanicals native to Vietnam. Coming in delicate packaging designs, the creamy coconut butter will keep your skin hydrated and nourished all the time while allowing you to indulge in the pleasant scent from lavender, lemongrass, and grapefruit essential oils.

Product featured:

Scented natural body butter cream and soft coconut lip balm | Source: Coconut Religious
Scented natural body butter cream and soft coconut lip balm | Source: Coconut Religious

Website | Instagram

The Queen Beauty

The Queen was established by Nick McKenna and his partners in 2017 in response to Vietnam’s increasing demand for non-chemical and pure natural beauty products. The product that makes The Queen stand out from other natural cosmetic brands in Vietnam is its lipsticks for pregnant women, which use only natural ingredients that are totally safe for both the mother and her baby. The Queen's semi-matte lipstick line is also a must-try product coming in long-lasting beautiful colors.

Natural products at The QUEEN | Source: The Queen
Natural products at The QUEEN | Source: The Queen
Natural deodorant | Source: The Queen
Natural deodorant | Source: The Queen
Dish soap made from organic coconut oil  | Source: The Queen
Dish soap made from organic coconut oil  | Source: The Queen
Semi-matte lipstick | Source: The Queen
Semi-matte lipstick | Source: The Queen

Website | Instagram 

Translated by Bich Tram