KVT – Chula Invades New York

KVT celebrates artistic excellence

Before I disappear for a month to the northern reaches of a place where it won’t get dark until 11pm, where northern lights might occasionally shimmer the sky, where the average day time temperature will be 20 degrees if we’re lucky, and where blood sucking midges invade every summer evening….I want to pay tribute to what has become one of Hanoi’s most enduring and successful art institutions

It’s the fashion house of CHULA over on the shores of West Lake about half way between the yells of delight that echo from the water park, and the two green dragons that guard the lake.

When it’s not making money to pay its large and talented staff (many of whom are speech and hearing impaired) by putting together colorful or whimsical or sexy creations for a growing clientele of discerning Hano-ians of all shapes and sizes and nationalities, owner/artists Laura and Diego are often preparing fashion pieces for international parades and fashion exhibitions, AND ITS THIS FACET OF CHULA THAT PUTS THEM IN THE LEAGUE OF WORLD CLASS ARTISTS with excellent images here.

To digress…….Chula, spread across pavilions and courtyards is an art gallery par excellence. Apart from racks of dresses ranging from the very affordable bread and butter creations to the extremely high art pieces, Chula is its own art installation and if you haven’t taken the chance to drop in and see it then you’re missing out on one of Hanoi’s real highlights. Best of all it’s a changing art installation that catches you by surprise whenever you get into it all

If you’re a bit unsure about a day time visit, watch out for info about Chula’s frequent night time events (music, art exhibitions featuring some of Vietnam’s and the world’s best artists) and you can join the crowds and marvel about Chula at your leisure

Chula is operated by two exhuberant Spanish expats …seen here at the Grand Canyon last year…. (and their 3 school age children)

and in my opinion, the expats from Spain are just about Hanoi’s most amenable…and joyous. Chula used to be home, workshop, design studio, display rooms and gallery. Now it’s expanded so much that the home has relocated and now the whole space on the lake is a grand atelier.

For a couple of years now Chula has been one of those fashion houses that has been invited to some pretty prestigious and overall stunningly located fashion shows that began in the very high walkway of Petronas Towers in KL.

And here’s a sample of those high art pieces that Chula created for the event

Some people call then dresses, others creations, while I refer to them as unique canvasses and if you’re on of those interior design persons who like exotic installations of special or ceremonial clothing on your walls then don’t be surprised to find yourself looking at a few Chula pieces that would make dramatic statements

I’ve got my eyes on a cloak created for Chula’s recent showing of their next winter collection that had as its theme HANOI 40 YEARS. It’s a dramatic but fun filled piece that features appliqués and embroidery about festivals in Hanoi

Or this reversible cloak

Another time they were invited to Paris and a special exhibition of their specially created works (along with a selection of other spectacularly talented designers) and from the boat on the Seine, some Chula canvasses:

PR for the Chula collection is spot on:

“Spanish fashion house CHULA was a part of J Model Management’s latest phenomena on PETRONAS Twin Towers’ Skybridge in Kuala Lumpur in March and the Seine in Paris in July this year. The label, which was created by designer and architect Diego Cortizas, amazed the fashion world when it turned each and every dress into a unique piece of art using bold colors, striking patterns, personalized touches, and famous embroidered quotes which added the humorous elements in the collections. CHULA has definitely gone beyond the usual catwalk trend to create a youthful brand that is widely available and appealing to fashion lovers from different backgrounds.”

Then it was off to the world’s highest catwalk, the glass bottomed walkway over the Grand Canyon. Chula incorporated their distinctive designs with Asian silk, embroidery and appliqué with each piece reflecting the colors and moods of the canyon.

and at times referencing the First Nation’s people from the area

Now it’s off to New York and a show at 7pm, June 25 at the new World Trade Center

http://www.facebook.com/diegochula

and when I last saw Diego a week ago he was busy in this room working on some new canvasses and I can’t wait to see the results

To conclude: some inexpert images I captured on my little camera…..excellent scenes and moments from the Chula winter collection featuring 40 years since the Vietnamese Victory over the American invaders and its allies in 1975

And featuring some of my favorite celebrations and places….even the ubiquitous Beer Hoi