Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026: Behind the radiant Ao Dai moments in London
WVR - Over six months of preparation, nearly 200 volunteers involved, and a completely non-profit project. That's what unfolded before Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026 officially hit the runway.
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| Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026 took place from September 18-20 in the United Kingdom. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
When the lights come on, everything unfolds in a few hours. But the work to bring Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026 to the stage began months earlier.
It was a team from various fields and countries, most of whom participated entirely voluntarily, without compensation, even traveling from afar to London to support the event.
For Ms. Hoang Ha, founder of the Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the United Kingdom and Head of the Organizing Committee of Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026, the desire is encapsulated in one sentence: “We want to see Ao Dai belong to London for a moment, but remain forever Vietnamese.”
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| The hair team works backstage, perfecting the models' looks before each show. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
A multicultural team
What’s special is that the journey to bring Ao Dai to London this time involved contributions from many non-Vietnamese individuals. The stage director, sound and lighting crew, and photographers included many foreign members.
Meanwhile, 21 experts from Glow by Elena Dragomir were responsible for makeup and hairstyling; the model lineup was of multiple nationalities.
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| The makeup and preparation area backstage before showtime. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
The ART SPACE Association handled press and communications with members from France, Australia, Vietnam, and the UK. Alongside them were teams for graphics, imagery, content, logistics, and volunteers in London.
They came to ADFW from different starting points. Some were already familiar with and loved Vietnamese culture. For others, this was their first opportunity to work with Ao Dai and learn more about this Vietnamese garment.
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| The production and technical team worked right at the runway area, ensuring sound, lighting, imagery, and rehearsals. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
This made London a special setting. Ao Dai was not only introduced to a multicultural community. The process of creating the program was also a collaboration among people with different languages, professions, and backgrounds.
Six months for a few hours on the Runway
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| A model showcases an Ao Dai design on the runway. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
ADFW was built to the professional format of a Fashion Week, but the resources that made the program possible mainly came from voluntary contributions.
Some collaborated from afar for many months. Some arranged their work to come to London. Some contributed expertise, others their time, some even applied for visas and traveled to join the program. Each contribution was different, but all aimed at the day when Ao Dai collections would fully appear on the runway.
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| The photography and media team worked alongside the runway, interviewing guests and capturing moments of Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
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The runway lasted only a few hours. Beyond the lights, models, designers, and collections, what remains is nearly 200 people from around the world who became part of the moment when Ao Dai belonged to London.
And perhaps, the most beautiful aspect of this gathering is that Ao Dai was not only seen in London but also inspired people from various cultures to contribute to that moment.
