The launch of Zalora in Hanoi makes the online shopping experience that bit better
Words By May Cortazzi.
May has lived in Hanoi for four years working as a designer, fashion lecturer at the London School of Fashion and stylist on VTV3 Fashion and Life. Her show is on 2PM on Saturdays.
I was excited to go to ‘Hello Hanoi’, the launch of leading Vietnamese online fashion retailer Zalora’s first showroom in Hanoi. The launch included a series of pop up stores, a catwalk show and the chance to talk to the designers behind the products.
Online shopping in Vietnam has become a popular pastime. Vietnam has the fourth largest online population with young entrepreneurs setting up Facebook stores and quickly responding to international trends; designing, making then promoting and selling their designs online to customers around Vietnam. With growing demand for a wider variety of fashion led products and the convenience factor of delivery to your door, it is understandable why shopping for the latest looks online is a fast emerging market.
And Zalora really make the online shopping experience work. The site showcases a range of international brands and emerging local Vietnamese designers, offers a complete ranges of sizes, free returns, and pay on delivery service. The locally based showrooms give online shoppers a chance to preview, touch and feel clothes that are sold online. And what’s more, products can be delivered to your door in as little as three hours. I’m torn between excitement at being able to get lots of new clothes in just a few hours and at the same time slight anxious that those lunchtimes when I can’t resist a ‘quick peek’ might start costing quite a lot.
“Hello Hanoi”
Zalora’s catwalk show featured collections from their own brand plus Hanoi’s most favourite designers; L’Attelier, Devon London, Le Ha and Ha Linh Tu – showcasing styles they are selling internationally through Zalora’s online platform.
Zalora’s own brand showed an alluring mix of streetwear, combined leather jackets, with tribal patterns, vivid vintage prints and oversized jumper dresses. Highlights from the Hanoi designers included L’Attelier’s show-stopping, longline, figure-flattering, dresses – which could work well either glammed up with heels or worn more casually paired with boots. A personal favorite was Devon London’s tailored collection featuring quirky three- dimensional necklines, sharp cuts combined with transparent details and digital prints. On my wish list the longline, black drapey tailored jacket to wear with white transparent shirt and pencil skirt.
It’s exciting to see how designers in Hanoi are responding quickly to the demands of the local market. They seem to be successfully incorporating a decent range of different looks to meet the demands of Vietnam’s new wave of fashion conscious customers.
Images courtesy of Zalora
