Trinh Diem Uyen

In 1994, I started a fashion business under the trade name Uyen designer at number 9 Trân Phú street, Hội An. In 2000, my designs were featured in several travel magazines. The Lonely Planet referred to me as a “Funky Designer.” That same year, I decided to leave everything behind and go searching to reinvent myself.
For seven years, I traveled across Asia to find the best colors and techniques for my designs. I found the color of nature in the plants and the beauty of nature in the mountains and its people. In India, I found the natural pigment I was searching for and learned to create vivid, durable colors with hand painting on silk and hand screen painting. I visited Malaysia, Indonesia, and mountainous regions of Vietnam to study with different ethnic minorities. I also worked with established fashion designers from various countries to get more experience. In the end, I combined what I learned about fabrics, colors, and techniques to develop my own natural methods.
By 2007, I had perfected my style and was ready to return to my roots to set up my business in the ancient town of Hoi An. The first collection released was the “Black Butterfly.” Then, Papillon Noir was born, in November 2007.
Community
Every summer, I have organized vocational training programs for disadvantaged young people, many from remote areas in Vietnam. We provided housing and materials for the program. At the end of the six-month course, we selected the most capable students to continue to train as the staff of Papillon Noir.
As a creator, I love to study and develop. I also love to do things that are nice for life. I would like to invite all designers around the world to join our workshop.