Breating life into tradition

On this project, I collaborated with Ao Yem Vietnam to create the Dragon Ao Yem—a wearable piece that fuses traditional Vietnamese culture with modern innovation. This project features a Vietnamese dragon intertwined with lotus flowers, symbols of strength, purity, and resilience in Vietnamese heritage. Drawing inspiration from the elegant form of the traditional Ao Yem dress, I integrated these cultural motifs using advanced 3D printing technology.

After researching various methods, I selected Stereolithography (SLA) for its precision and ability to produce detailed, smooth textures with minimal post-processing. Although some delicate parts broke during printing, I was able to restore them, resulting in a detailed, expressive sculpture. The dragon was then seamlessly integrated into the garment design, complementing the curved structure of the Ao Yem and honoring its classic silk and embroidery details. This piece stands as a tribute to Vietnamese tradition while embracing the future of fashion—a modern interpretation that blends art, culture, and technology into a meaningful statement of identity, empowerment, and creative expression.