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Beauty queen runner-up Hương Ly with Hientje Nguyen’s oversized handbag.
For the first time in Vietnam, a super-sized handbag designed and crafted by international designer Hientje Nguyen has appeared in the ‘The Light Of Nature’ collection. The highlight is a lotus-shaped bag in the design line called ‘The Lotus’, along with two butterfly-shaped bags shimmering with vibrant colors from the ‘The Butterfly’ line, all part of the same collection. All three bags measure 1.25m in length, 80cm in height, and 30cm in width, with a total weight of nearly 10kg. They are made using nearly 100 pieces of leather for the front and back panels, as well as inner lining and outer surfaces.
The creation required the collaboration of 10 artisans working continuously for nearly 100 hours to complete what is considered the largest handbag in Vietnam. The exterior is decorated with more than 100 leather flowers on both the front and back, while the interior features nearly 500 embossed ‘HIENTJE’ letters, which is also the name of the handbag brand designed by Hientje Nguyen
Beauty queen runner-up Hương Ly together with designer Hientje Nguyen
With its large size and shimmering glitter leather, the level of grandeur is amplified many times over. This may also be the first time in Vietnam, and one of the rare cases in the world, where handbags occupy the entire runway during a catwalk show to be presented to the public.
The ‘The Light Of Nature’ collection by designer Hientje Nguyen is inspired by the radiant beauty of nature, especially the moments of blooming lotus flowers and a cocoon transforming into a butterfly. Designer Hientje Nguyen chose this moment to debut the collection to the public for a reason and with special meaning. It reflects her own personal journey: she spent four years researching and developing to design and craft handbags with transformative and flexible forms—something that few handbag designers in the world have explored.
She also nurtured her ‘cocoon’ phase in developing Vietnam’s first pioneering luxury handbag design and craftsmanship segment. Now, after enough time and preparation, it is ready to be revealed to the public—symbolizing a ‘cocoon transformation.’ Similarly, the idea is also inspired by the story of a lotus blooming
Designer Hientje Nguyen together with supermodel Dianka
In a muddy and dark pond, the lotus has to go through many months of effort, deeply rooting itself in that foul mud while waiting for the first days when flowers begin to appear. In the beginning, only a few flowers bloom; on the second day, the number doubles compared to the first day, and then each following day, the lotus continues to bloom with twice the amount of the previous day. By the 30th day, the lotus flowers will fully cover the surface of the lake.
This represents willpower and perseverance. Sometimes, in the deepest and darkest mud, we feel completely stuck in our efforts, seeing no light of success. But with strong determination and relentless persistence, one day we will see the first blossoms, and eventually an entire lake of blooming lotus flowers…
Supermodel Dianka, runner-up Nhi Vu, designer Hientje Nguyen, and runner-up Hương Ly.
Moreover, on the path to success, there will also be many temptations. However, the lotus flower represents purity and steadfastness, always radiating its delicate fragrance without being tainted by the foul smell of mud
Supermodel Dianka
All of this closely reflects the journey from a dream to an idea, and then through a long process of effort and execution, in the role of Vietnam’s first luxury handbag designer.
During this journey, there were many outsourcing orders—some clients even placed orders for 2,000 handbag samples to be manufactured for export to South Korea, or 1,000 belt orders based on existing market designs, along with many other production requests after seeing the refined designs and products crafted by Hientje’s artisan team.
However, despite these attractive orders, the brand did not lose sight of its role as a creative designer unit—one that innovates, contributes intellectual value, and helps shape a new chapter in fashion history. It is not an entity created to produce outsourced manufacturing or to modify existing market designs.
Thanks to this clarity of direction, designer Hientje Nguyen has been able to dedicate herself fully in both heart and mind to her design career, staying on the right path and continuously improving the quality of her work.
The giant lotus bow handbag by designer Hientje Nguyen
Thanks to its purity that cannot be tempted, and a persistence like a cocoon enduring loneliness in darkness, the lotus in the dark mud spends a full 4 years and 4 months waiting for the moment when the ‘lotus blooms in full glory,’ beautifying an entire lake, and the ‘cocoon transforms into a butterfly’ that spreads its wings to share beauty with the world…
These are the creative ideas based on the unique concept of designer Hientje Nguyen, introduced to the public and consumers.
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