Vietnam’s impressive economic growth and the distinctive traits of a cultural identity that has its cradle and its heart in Hanoi, the city spearheads the fashion and artistic trends and the constant tightening of bilateral relations, are the main assets that have included the Vietnamese capital in the list of 100 cities chosen by Italy to celebrate Design Day, with the value added of a mission by an Italian “ambassador of design” for this special occasion.
Barbara Trebitsch, former director of the “Domus Academy” Fashion School of Milan, which specialises in the areas of design, fashion and architecture, was appointed Italian “Ambassador of design” in Hanoi. The programme of the Italian Design Day in Hanoi features two principal initiatives: the first event will take place on 2 March at Casa Italia, the centre for the promotion of Made in Italy products and Italian culture. Casa Italia maintains the age-old original vocation of a venue where Italians and Vietnamese can meet, spend time together and exchange ideas, as people used to do on Renaissance piazzas, the Italian city squares of the 15th Century, which were the heart of social, political and cultural life, where ideas cross-fertilised like in an outdoor “laboratory”. Starting from the afternoon of 2 March, Casa Italia will host the exhibition “50+! Il grande gioco dell’industria”, a journey through the most representative objects of Italian design and a special display of renowned Italian brands, enriching the permanent showcase for the products of the major investors in Vietnam. On 3 March, the second initiative aimed at exploring possible partnerships and joint ventures will feature a conference held at the National Civil Engineering University in the format of a round table chaired by Italian Ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni, mainly focused on fashion, architecture and industrial design. The conference will be attended by the Italian “Ambassador of design” Barbara Trebitsch, in addition to representatives of iconic Italian brands, Vietnamese academics and the most important names in the sector of design who have a special relationship with Italy and have acquired their professional experience there.
