Da Nang artisan brings leaf skeleton crafting to the world

From a family craft passed down by her father to creations showcased at London Fashion Week 2026, Da Nang artisan Vo Thi Nhu Nguyen is finding new possibilities in the delicate art of leaf skeleton crafting.

At first glance, they look like ordinary fans and conical hats. Hold them up to the light, however, and intricate networks of veins emerge, transforming fragile leaves into delicate works of art.

Da Nang leaf art shines at Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026

Recently, five sets of leaf-skeleton hats and fans made by 42-year-old Vo Thi Nhu Nguyen appeared the Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026 held in the UK’s capital in September, as part of London Fashion Week.

Created in just 10 days at the request of clients, the designs featured landmarks such as Ha Noi’s One Pillar Pagoda and Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge, alongside London icons including Tower Bridge and Elizabeth Tower.

I hope international audiences can appreciate the beauty of Vietnamese handicrafts, from the meticulous work involved in every stage to the artistic value created by the craftsperson’s hands.Artisan Vo Thi Nhu Nguyen, Hai Chau Ward, Da Nang

Nguyen grew up surrounded by handmade objects. Her father, Vo Ngoc Hung, spent years working with skeletonized leaves, particularly those from wild crape myrtle trees, while her mother worked with colors and painting.

Nguyen graduated in lacquer painting from Hue University of Arts before moving into fashion and other creative fields. Years later, she returned to the family craft, determined to preserve her father’s accumulated techniques while developing a style of her own.

The science behind nature’s delicate patterns

Creating these works of art begins long before a leaf reaches a hat or fan. Nguyen has experimented with nearly 100 leaf varieties, examining their vein structures, thickness, and resistance to soaking.

After extensive trials, she selected some types for further development. Each requires a different approach. Some retain strong vein networks after weeks of treatment, while others break apart easily.

The leaves must be mature, free of disease and structurally sound before processing begins. Typically, they are soaked in water mixed with baking soda for one to one-and-a-half months, allowing the flesh to decompose gradually.

The remaining tissue is then carefully brushed away to reveal the intricate vein network, with even a small mistake potentially destroying weeks of work. She experiments with colors derived from natural materials such as turmeric and gardenia seeds, drawing on her experience in fabric dyeing.

One of her biggest challenges was adapting the material from conical hats to folding fans. Unlike hats, fans must withstand repeated opening and closing, requiring the leaf skeletons to remain flexible without tearing, breaking, or catching against the bamboo ribs.

Nguyen spent around three months experimenting, ruining nearly 100 fans before finding a workable solution. Drawing on her father’s technique of using starch paste to reinforce silk, she tested different adhesives and application methods until she developed a technique for mounting leaf skeletons on silk in a way that allows light to pass through both sides.

The result preserves the delicate veins while giving the material enough stability for everyday movement.

To date, hundreds of her hats and fans have reached the market, with some finding buyers in such markets as the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Italy.

For Nguyen, the appeal lies in the individuality of each leaf. No two possess the same pattern, and every finished piece reflects a dialogue between nature and the artisan’s hand.

By combining inherited techniques with the sensibility of painting and fashion, she is transforming a traditional family craft into a contemporary art form with international appeal.

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