In the heart of Vietnam, where the air hums with motorbikes and monsoon dreams, a new silhouette is being sketched—the Vietnamese local fashion scene is in full, fragrant bloom. For designer Duy Tran, the visionary behind the global sensation FANCì CLUB, building a brand from Ho Chi Minh City is never a limitation, but a gift of possibility. “It offers a unique kind of creative freedom,” he reflects. Here, the scene blossoms without what he described as the deep-seated and powerful “shadows of the giants.” Emerging designers are free from the rigid standards of the world of high fashion. In this context, Vietnam possesses what Tran calls a “blank canvas energy,” allowing ideas to unfold organically. This is not another well-trodden path, but an unmapped territory lined with potential.
Tran’s journey began with upcycling existing garments, where limitations became his greatest teachers. “In upcycling, you don’t really have the luxury of a blank canvas; you’re always working within certain limits,” he recalls. Working with constraints forged his deep respect for fabric and an intentionality in every choice—a philosophy that became the brand’s cornerstone. His focus is to contribute to Vietnamese fashion’s narrative through a reverence for construction, sourcing, and sustainable materiality. And in this very process, he finds new creative pathways that unfurl on their own. This was how FANCì CLUB was introduced in 2019.
As FANCì CLUB matured, so did its heartbeat. Tran’s gaze turned inward. The “free spirit of Vietnamese women” he once cited as an inspiration in the early days has evolved. “It’s less about how you present yourself to the world and more about inner strength,” he proposes. This shift comes alive in his recent Spring/Summer 2026 collection, “Renaked”, a collection rooted in vulnerability as a form of strength. “It’s not about taking everything off, but letting go of what no longer feels true,” he notes. “There’s a quiet rebellion in choosing to be fully seen, especially in a world that often rewards armour over honesty.” This pursuit of honest existence is how he now interprets his local context, translating the lived reality, sensitivity, and resilience of a young generation in Vietnam into a shared language of emotion.
This evolution naturally sought a new stage. The decision to hold his first runway show in 2025 was not dictated by the calendar or market pressure, but by a felt readiness— what he terms “a natural point of arrival.” When the ideas grow beyond individual pieces into worldbuilding that encompasses movement, rhythm and emotions, a runway felt like the right format to present this evolution. The monumental effort of presenting 80 looks culminated in a brief breathless silence before the thunderous applause—a core memory for Tran as he stood with his team, witnessing the vision finally breathe. Tran reflects that “the runway didn’t feel like a ‘launch’ but a natural transition into our next endeavour together.”
FANCì CLUB’s maturation mirrors the thrilling shift he has witnessed across Southeast Asia. The region’s fashion identity, once viewed through a narrow lens, is now stepping onto the global stage with heads held high. While the label has garnered a growing international clientele, especially with the support of celebrities such as Lisa, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and more, this growth remains deeply connected to lived experiences. “Designers here are developing their own voices, shaped by climate, lifestyle, and social context,” Tran observes. What makes the fashion here special, he notes, is a resonant balance—a deep respect for craftsmanship and culture, met with larger room and willingness for experimentation.
Sustaining this soulful craftsmanship amidst growth can be daunting, but Tran navigates this by keeping production in-house and close at hand—an advantage in a nation long known as a textile hub. This proximity allows him to maintain a hands-on connection, ensuring that scale never dilutes the brand’s integrity. With eyes set on the future, Tran’s aspirations are built on genuine connection. Just as the runway felt like a natural next step, so does a dream of deeper reach. “One thing I’ve always wanted to do is to open a store in the United States,” he shares, a goal to offer those outside of Asia a tangible and first-hand brand experience. The desire to connect is also personal; he wishes to travel more after spending most of his time on his venture, to experience different cultures. “I want to see how people express themselves in different places, and to better understand various fashion scenes around the world.”
Photo Courtesy (from left to right): FANCì CLUB, Lisa, Dua Lipa
As his brand grows, I wonder—as many do—if being at the forefront of how the world sees contemporary Vietnamese fashion comes with a certain weight. Tran, however, reframes this responsibility as a daily ritual of acting with greater care and intention. His path may have ridden a timely wave, but the courage to dive into uncharted waters stems from gripping firmly onto one principle he returns to again and again: being intentional.
Even amidst a meteoric rise, the designer, who is in his mid-20s, remains grounded. He views international exposure less as a turning point and more as a sign of reaching likeminded souls who resonate with him and the brand. “More than anything, FANCì CLUB has become a way to connect—with myself and with others,” he enthuses. The goal was never to project or emphasise an archetypal image. “I don’t feel pressured to tick boxes through surface-level references,” he explains. “Instead, I want the work to be a translation of our lived reality.” More than any symbol, what he hopes FANCì CLUB will carry as it moves to a bigger stage has always been the human pulse.
This story first appeared on the GRAZIA Malaysia February 2026 print issue.
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