The opening line of Nhu Duong’s biography certainly gets your imagination going. “Born in Ho Chi Minh City as daughter of a Kung-Fu Master and a tailoress [sic]…” has quite the ring to it and combined with a small collection of Emerging Talent awards, expectations quickly rise.

The appearance of a white cotton tee with a layer of green tulle teamed with a grey knee-length skirt was a nod to the relaxed simplicity we’ve come to expect from our Swedish brands but there was a sportiness in the cut that felt promising. A couple of super-wide pleated palazzo pants were interesting but were quickly overtaken by a succession of, what can only be described as, cut-off-trouser ‘boots’ rising to mid-thigh that accompanied some short dresses. With said expectations somewhat deflated things picked up again when a diaphanous tulle bomber jacket showed up and then again in a check pattern teamed with simple black trousers. 

It’s clear that Duong’s interest lies in new technology and materials; after all, in her show notes the knitwear are described as “woven from stainless steel and fluorescent fibre” so hopefully she will continue to develop these along with the sporty silhouettes that set her apart from others. Those felt modern and fresh. It’s just that the glow-in-the-dark big reveal of the finale felt a bit gimmicky. But she is young and there was certainly just enough here to keep the interest alive. Till next season! 

By Kiki Georgiou 

Kiki Georgiou är baserad i London och skriver regelbundet för Style.com och Showstudio samt brittiska Vogue och Glamour. Se fler bilder från Nhu Duong vår/sommar 2013 och läs vad Rodeos Marcella Mravec tyckte här.