Young fashion designer promotes her brand

Young fashion designer Manithip  Vongphachan (Arlin), 29, is currently promoting her fashion brand after spending considerable time learning fashion inside and outside of Laos.
Her fashion brand - LeLao – was launched in December 2020. She set it up after studying fashion design and taking part in fashion projects to showcase her talent.

Manithip Vongphachan (centre) poses with Lao models sporting her designer wear.

Manithip graduated from Kiettisack International School and then studied Fashion and Textile Design at Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. She was awarded a scholarship by the Korean government in 2017 to pursue the course. Earlier she had graduated from Ehwa University in 2013. She also studied Fashion Design Management at the University of the Arts London in 2020.
Her love for fashion design led her to take part in the Asean Designers Showcase Project which was seeking young Lao designers for their show in Malaysia way back in 2017.
With a fair international exposure, she recently got an occasion to show her collections along with other young fashion designer friends such as Billy Si-amphan and the fashion designer at Ministry of Silk brand, Ms Pany Saignavongs.
Earlier, she had joined a fashion design contest that was supported by the American Embassy, and Fashion Revolution as part of the Fair Fashion Laos-2019 project. The contest aimed to introduce Lao fabric for modern wear and to raise awareness about Lao fashion.
For the event she designed two outfits, using sustainable fabric from upcycled materials with zero-waste. She feels honoured to be a part of this sustainable movement in Laos by employing Made-In-Lao fabric.
She is happy to have a chance to showcase eco-fashion in Laos, give a fillip to Made-in-Lao fabric, and promote sustainable fashion. “This is a very interesting collaboration between local artisans and designers. And it’s challenging to make fashion that is friendly to the environment,” she remarked.
After winning this contest, she joined the Lao Young Designer Project competition and worked on her dream of launching her own brand.
Ms Manithip Arlin launched her brand after gaining adequate experience in the fashion world, she told Vientiane Times. She was inspired to create her own brand to promote Lao fashion, she told VT.
She now is the co-founder and producer of The XYZ Art Centre, apart from being the founder and creative director, and designer at LeLao.
LeLao specialises in ethically made clothing, created with the mission of making Lao’s heritage and sustainable fashion accessible everywhere. It has a concept of being compassionate, sweet yet strong, and empowering.
The brand was inspired by Ms Manithip Arlin’s keen interest in fashion with a low impact on the world. Therefore, LeLao is emphasising building a green framework with four core values – social, environmental, economic, and purpose.
“We believe that the balance between the four core values will result in a sustainable outcome. Ultimately, our goal is to provide jobs to locals and become the heritage brand of Laos,” she said.
The brand showcased its designs at the Lao fashion week this year. “We constantly receive orders from our customers. The fashion show was a great chance to highlight LeLao’s identity to a wide array of consumers,” she said.
“Our goal is to offer ethically made clothing lines to the local market. More than that, LeLao’s ultimate goal is to be able to scale ourselves up so that we can compete in the international market,” she added.
She hopes to launch her official website soon. Through this platform, she expects international consumers will be able to purchase her goods, regardless of their location.
The LeLao brand recently officially opened LeLao Studio at Nakham village, Sikhottabong district. It’s open to the public.

By Sisouphan Amphonephong
(Latest Update May 13, 2022)