Where is one of Hà Nội's oldest áo dài shops?
Ms. Phạm Ngân An, one of the most famous and experienced áo dài designers in Hà Nội, was born and wrapped in silk, for her parents ran a silk shop during the early 1930s at 28 and 47 Hàng Đào, a busy trading street in Hà Nội's Old Quarter. The shop was called Hy Hoa, compound name made from her father's and mother's given names.
Her mother was also called "Madam Scholar Hy" because fer father, Mr. Hy, was a village teacher in the outskirts of Hà Nội. Ms. Ngân An's father also helped her mother trade in local cloths such as silk, floss silk, and gauze and assisted with orders of material from France, England, China, and India. As the Hy Hoa Shop began to grow, Ms. An's parents opened more shops until 1946, when the Resistance War Against France broke out.
Ms. An had nine sisters and brothers, all with names that begin with "A". Her father wanted their names to appear on the top of their teachers' lists so that his children would feel more confident in their studies.
Although her family was well off and had several servants, Ngân An, together with her 4 sisters, learned to cook and sew from a young age. Ngân An recalls that when she was six years old, her parents sent her to the Mai Anh Private school to learn how to cook and make clothes. She seemed to be a natural with clothe, and her skill advanced rapidly.
Because her house had so much material, Ms. Ngân An asked her mother's permission to make clothes for all her family. She never thought she would later earn money from such work. She was also curious about folk dress, such as the four-flap dress, áo tứ thân. Whenever her mother bought young rice cakes (bánh cốm), snail vermicelli vendor, Ngân An would borrow the vendor's robe to try it on and take notes of its features. She made folk clothes for her sisters. Then, together, they would perform chèo opera or dance.
Private businesses were not encouraged after the Resistance War Against France ended in 1954. Ms. Ngân An's family followed the mode of living at that time; the business closed. The adults in the family worked for government offices, and the family's living space was much reduced. When she was fifteen, Ngân An was recruited by the Hà Nội Drama Group and began to divide her time between acting and high school classes. She tailored costumes for her troupe and, wearing her handmade áo dài, would introduce the troupe's programs.
She married at the age of twenty. Her husband worked in the Railway Service. They lived in a room of eight square metres. During the hard times of the American War, she made clothes after work to earn money to meet the family's living costs. After the end of the war in 1975, Ms. Ngân An worked at the Hà Nội Fine Arts Company and was responsible only for making áo dài. When the government's policy of renewal stimulated the private economic sector, she opened a fashion shop in her apartment.
In 1992, Ngân An bought eight square metres facing the street and founded the Ngân An Limited Company. She ran the business so well that her company has expanded into a building that boasts 120 square metres. The company has three departments - wedding dresses, áo dài, and casual clothes. Its clothes are famous inside and outside Việt Nam.
Her mother was also called "Madam Scholar Hy" because fer father, Mr. Hy, was a village teacher in the outskirts of Hà Nội. Ms. Ngân An's father also helped her mother trade in local cloths such as silk, floss silk, and gauze and assisted with orders of material from France, England, China, and India. As the Hy Hoa Shop began to grow, Ms. An's parents opened more shops until 1946, when the Resistance War Against France broke out.
Ms. An had nine sisters and brothers, all with names that begin with "A". Her father wanted their names to appear on the top of their teachers' lists so that his children would feel more confident in their studies.
Although her family was well off and had several servants, Ngân An, together with her 4 sisters, learned to cook and sew from a young age. Ngân An recalls that when she was six years old, her parents sent her to the Mai Anh Private school to learn how to cook and make clothes. She seemed to be a natural with clothe, and her skill advanced rapidly.
Because her house had so much material, Ms. Ngân An asked her mother's permission to make clothes for all her family. She never thought she would later earn money from such work. She was also curious about folk dress, such as the four-flap dress, áo tứ thân. Whenever her mother bought young rice cakes (bánh cốm), snail vermicelli vendor, Ngân An would borrow the vendor's robe to try it on and take notes of its features. She made folk clothes for her sisters. Then, together, they would perform chèo opera or dance.
Private businesses were not encouraged after the Resistance War Against France ended in 1954. Ms. Ngân An's family followed the mode of living at that time; the business closed. The adults in the family worked for government offices, and the family's living space was much reduced. When she was fifteen, Ngân An was recruited by the Hà Nội Drama Group and began to divide her time between acting and high school classes. She tailored costumes for her troupe and, wearing her handmade áo dài, would introduce the troupe's programs.
She married at the age of twenty. Her husband worked in the Railway Service. They lived in a room of eight square metres. During the hard times of the American War, she made clothes after work to earn money to meet the family's living costs. After the end of the war in 1975, Ms. Ngân An worked at the Hà Nội Fine Arts Company and was responsible only for making áo dài. When the government's policy of renewal stimulated the private economic sector, she opened a fashion shop in her apartment.
In 1992, Ngân An bought eight square metres facing the street and founded the Ngân An Limited Company. She ran the business so well that her company has expanded into a building that boasts 120 square metres. The company has three departments - wedding dresses, áo dài, and casual clothes. Its clothes are famous inside and outside Việt Nam.
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