Designer Vu Thao of KILOMET109 showcases a slow fashion collection of contemporary silhouettes, each informed by the weaving traditions of eight Indigenous communities in her home country.
When Lifestyle Asia asked Vu Thao of the Vietnamese label KILOMET109 about the inspiration for her collection at Fashion WeekFashion WeekA recurring event, held in cities such as Paris, Milan, New York, and London, where designers present upcoming collections to buyers, editors, and celebrities. Fashion weeks set the direction ofGo to Fashion Week Glossary Asia 2026, her answer was simple: the eight Indigenous communities she has worked with in her home country. Spanning northern, central, and southern Vietnam, the collection celebrates the country’s rich textile heritage while reinterpreting traditional craftsmanship from a modern perspective.
A highlight of the collection is the introduction of ikat weaving from a Khmer community in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Known for its intricate patterns and handwoven silk, the double-faced textile adds depth and character to the pieces. Seven other communities contribute their own techniques and textiles, creating a collection that reflects the diversity of Vietnamese dress and the people who keep these traditions alive.
The result is wearable and decidedly high-fashion: traditional textiles take on contemporary forms, with distinctive silhouettes and fabric treatments that allow the craftsmanship to shine. Each piece carries a sense of history, yet the collection feels firmly anchored to the present, providing a fresh direction for Vietnamese fashion.
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How KILOMET109 Values The Hands That Made The Garments
For Thao, making the people behind the garments visible is just as important as the finished designs. She praised Fashion Week Asia 2026 for recognizing the makers, weavers, stylists, and artists who contribute to the industry, pointing out that their work deserves to be seen by audiences and buyers alike. “It’s the core element in our work that we want the maker to be visible,” she tells Lifestyle Asia.
That philosophy extends to KILOMET109’s approach to production. The label follows a slow-fashion model, every collection taking around a year to make. Rather than working with the conventional fashion calendar, Thao allots enough time for the techniques and textiles to develop. “We’re a very slow-made, processed label,” she tells us. “Our collection takes a year to make, and we do not follow seasons, because the nature of our concept does not allow us to really speed up.”
The process demands patience, particularly when working with traditional methods that cannot be rushed. For Thao, preserving the integrity of the craft means refusing to cut corners, even when the industry often moves at a faster pace.
Through KILOMET109, Thao hopes to introduce audiences to Vietnam’s diverse textile traditions while showing how heritage and innovation can co-exist within the same wardrobe. “I really want to see my brand in the Asia context,” she said, describing KILOMET109 as “a brand to celebrate the richness of the textile country in Asia.” With its considered approach and modern designs, the collection offers a compelling glimpse of what Vietnamese fashion can become when heritage is given room to evolve.
See the looks from the Kilomet109 collection below.
Photography by Excel Panlaque of KLIQ INC.
Frequently Asked Questions
KILOMET109 is a Vietnamese fashion label founded around the exploration and celebration of Vietnam’s textile heritage. Through its collections, the brand brings traditional textile techniques and craftsmanship into contemporary fashion.
Vu Thao is the designer behind KILOMET109. Her work explores Vietnamese textile traditions, Indigenous craftsmanship, and sustainable approaches to fashion.
KILOMET109’s Fashion Week Asia collection was inspired by eight Indigenous communities across northern, central, and southern Vietnam. Each community contributes its own textile traditions and techniques, highlighting the diversity of Vietnamese cultural heritage.
The collection combines traditional Vietnamese textiles with contemporary silhouettes, creating pieces that are both wearable and high-fashion. One of its highlights is double-faced ikat-woven silk created by a Khmer community in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
Yes. KILOMET109 follows a slow-fashion approach, with each collection taking approximately a year to make. The brand does not follow the conventional seasonal fashion calendar, allowing more time for its textile techniques and craftsmanship.
