Khanh Nguyen – Fashion

khanhKhanh Nguyen, a Dallas-based fashion designer, is a woman behind the label Nhã Khanh.

Born in Vietnam and raised in Texas, Khanh is a third generation fashion designer who grew up surrounded by art and fashion. Having a father as a talented artist and a mother that was a former bridal designer, creativity and art was encouraged throughout her life. At the tender age of 5, she became fascinated with apparel and started making dresses for her dolls, thus learning and picking up the design process early on.

Upon graduating from University of North Texas, Khanh started her own business in 2009 creating exclusive designs for private clienteles in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Designing provides the perfect outlet for Khanh to channel creativity and connect her vision with the public. She is completely hands-on in every aspect of the design and construction process from exploring ideas, drawing sketches, draping and pattern making, sewing and up until the completed product. Khanh describes her line as alluring and romantic with an earthy touch. Her inspiration comes from mainly nature and art. Personal touches and superior craftsmanship is her specialty and where hints of Khanh’s signature surfaces.

Khanh’s work was highly recognized several years ago. She took home numerous fashion design awards including Most Creative Designer Award at the UNT ArtWear Fashion Design Competition, 1st PLACE for Best of Show of FGI of Houston Career Day Design Competition and the coveted, Top Achievement Award for Fashion Group International of Dallas Career Day Design Competition, which gave her a ticket to the world’s finest fashion capital, Paris. She spent over one month training intensively by world leading fashion professionals and practiced the haute couture techniques of Nina Ricci, draping methods of Madame Gres, millinery skills from Jean Paul Gaultier, and crafting of handbags and accessories from Anne Valerie Hash.

Nha Khanh designs had appeared on several magazine covers such as La Mode magazine and D magazine. In 2009, D magazine named her as a Style Setter You Need to Know.

She has personally designed all of her beautiful clothes and put extensive training techniques into her garments. Khanh is passionate in making clothes and has an insatiable love for art and fashion. She is motivated to follow her mother’s footsteps and compelled to continue her family legacy by creating one dress at a time.

Philosophy
Fashion is a form of art in term of self-expression. Everything I design, from the intricate details to the finished garment, tells a story. I want my designs to bring out the joy and femininity of a woman. I design to uplift their spirit and allow them to dream and escape.- Khanh Nguyen

The story behind the label
The concept of opposites attract is simple and creates a balance of unison. Nha is a feminine word meaning light and delightful while Khanh is more masculine meaning success and victory. Fuse those words together, and both worlds collide leaving behind the perfect semblance of harmony. That is the foundation for the Nha Khanh label. – Khanh Nguyen