BLACKPINK and aespa are all wearing it: Why is “Vietnamese design” becoming the new favorite in K-pop wardrobes?
Breaking away from the usual image of Vietnamese fashion!
Key takeaways
- Vietnamese designer brands have become a new favorite on K-pop stages in recent years. Hit girl groups including BLACKPINK, aespa, BABYMONSTER, and KATSEYE have all worn them, with exaggerated silhouettes, Y2K details, dreamy ruffles, and quirky-sweet visuals meeting the needs of stage styling.
- Vietnamese brand La Lune created fairy-inspired looks for KATSEYE’s Coachella appearance, and its bold, experimental designs have also won over Lisa and Karina. Fanci Club, which began with vintage resale, is known for its Y2K ruffled dresses and corsets, attracting countless fans with a retro style that feels genuine and emotional.
- Vietnam is gradually shedding its old label as merely a manufacturing base for international fashion brands. A new generation of designers, including Cong Tri and Gia Studios, is combining local craftsmanship with youth culture through celebrity influence and social media, showing the world a distinctive creative vision.
- Vietnamese brands have risen quickly thanks to their flexible production capabilities and a design language that is freer and younger than traditional fashion, without pursuing excessive polish. They have drawn attention across Asia and successfully entered European and American markets, winning the favor of international stars such as Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid.
K-pop stage styling has grown increasingly exciting in recent years. Beyond the familiar luxury houses and Korean designer brands, a new force from Vietnam is quietly on the rise. From BLACKPINK and aespa to BABYMONSTER and newer girl group KATSEYE, a growing number of idols are wearing Vietnamese designer brands. These pieces may not follow a traditional luxury route, yet they make a strong visual impression: exaggerated silhouettes, Y2K details, dreamy ruffles, and sweet touches with a hint of the bizarre. They are just what K-pop stages need for looks that are unforgettable at first glance.
- Related reading: Style-conscious young women don’t just love sweet-and-cool looks: Meet Vietnamese brand BUNNYHILL Concept
KATSEYE wore Vietnamese brand La Lune at Coachella
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When KATSEYE took the Coachella stage this year, the members wore custom candy-colored, fairy-inspired looks by Vietnamese brand La Lune. The brand has become a favorite among many K-pop stylists in recent years: BLACKPINK’s Lisa; aespa’s Karina, Winter, and Ningning; and BABYMONSTER’s Pharita have all worn its designs. La Lune stands out for its bold, experimental silhouettes. From wide-leg pants embroidered with bat wings to dramatic cuts fit for a fairy-tale character, the brand consistently strikes a balance between sweetness and quirky fun. For K-pop idols who need to catch attention quickly onstage, in music videos, and on red carpets, designs like these naturally become a highlight.
La Lune isn’t the only idol favorite: Fanci Club is, too
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Another Vietnamese brand worth mentioning is Fanci Club, which has a strong Y2K feel. Known for ruffled dresses, corset tops, and feminine designs that are sexy without being overly polished, the brand has been worn by all four BLACKPINK members, ILLIT’s Minju, and singer-actress Chuu.
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Fanci Club began as a vintage resale business before moving into original designs, retaining a retro, carefree style with a hint of DIY. Rather than pursuing flawless perfection, its design language feels more genuine and emotional, echoing younger generations’ love for beauty that isn’t overly polished.
Vietnam is no longer just a “manufacturing hub”
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In the past, Vietnamese fashion first brought garment manufacturing and contract production to mind for many people. Vietnam has long been one of the world’s major textile and apparel exporters, supplying international brands such as Nike, Zara, and The North Face. Now, a new generation of Vietnamese designers is changing that impression. They are not simply making clothes; they are creating distinctive brand languages. Brands including La Lune, Fanci Club, Cong Tri, Gia Studios, Huelley Huelley, and Moi Dien Studio are using social media, celebrity styling, and the reach of international buyers to show more people the creativity of Vietnamese design.
Why has K-pop become a driving force for Vietnamese brands?
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K-pop styling has always required a strong visual impact: outfits need to catch the eye onstage, be memorable in music videos, and spark discussion at airports and in off-duty looks. Instead of playing it safe, stylists often need brands that can produce quickly, have a distinctive style, and create a unique image for idols.
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This is where the strengths of Vietnamese brands come into view. On one hand, they have flexible production capabilities. On the other, their design language is freer and younger than traditional high fashion, making it better suited to the social media era. When idols wear these pieces, photos quickly circulate on Instagram, TikTok, and X, allowing global fans to remember the brands in a short time.
Why is Vietnamese design so popular? Raw, playful, and imperfect
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Compared with the avant-garde edge of Japanese fashion and the polished finish of Korean fashion, Vietnam’s new generation of design brands shows a different, more instinctive energy: a little rough, a little naive, and a little chaotic, which makes it feel closer to young people’s real lives. This style does not pursue excessive polish, instead preserving a handmade feel, emotion, and the cute imperfections of everyday life. Perhaps that is why it can extend beyond K-pop stages into the wardrobes of young consumers around the world.
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From K-pop idol outfits to Western celebrities’ red-carpet looks, Vietnamese brands are no longer just a niche choice. Cong Tri’s polished designs have appeared on international red carpets, while Fanci Club has also found favor with stars including Olivia Rodrigo, Rosalía, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid.
As Vietnam’s younger generation becomes more familiar with global trends and more willing to embrace local culture, Vietnamese fashion is moving from “being made” to “being seen.” Its appeal lies not only in being affordable or quick, but in combining local craftsmanship, youth culture, and the visual language of the social media era. K-pop idols may be the most visible force behind this wave, yet what will truly make Vietnamese fashion endure is the vitality, personality, and creativity of the designs themselves.
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