Anna Bui

Meet the region's leading fashion designers

Vietnamese fashion designer Anna Bui Khac Loan Chau graduated in chemistry from the University of Ho Chi Minh City and worked in the banking industry for almost 10 years. The mother of two was about to be promoted to branch manager when she resigned to design her own fashion lines.

When did you launch your label?

I set up my first label, Capucine, in 1999, and opened a boutique in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The shop was successful and attracted a lot of Japanese tourists. The key products for the line are mainly clothing and scarves. My second line, Annabui, was launched in 2001, focusing on women's accessories. The boutique was near Capucine, but two years later Annabui moved to another area, where all the five-star hotels are located.

Have you always wanted to be a designer?

Yes. I loved dressing up dolls when I was a child. When I was a teenager, my mother would send me to activity courses during the summer, where I learnt skills such as tailoring and embroidery. Since then, I've made clothes for my family and friends.