A Day in the Life: Trần Tú Ngân
Founder and designer of Mayne Studios
A Day in the Life is a series by F&M where we invite fashion practitioners to share a day in their life.
Trần Tú Ngân.
Trần Tú Ngân is the founder and designer of Mayne Studios, a womenswear label established in Saigon in 2018. She runs the brand with her sister Trần Tú Uyên. Mayne Studios designs garments for the ordinary day, comfortable and made to be worn for years. Its most recent collection, Blank Space, features relaxed, easy silhouettes in cotton and washed linen. The pieces come in neutral shades of black, white, ivory and moss brown.
In this edition of A Day in the Life, Ngân shares a look at her days in Hoi An, where she designs, develops samples and packs orders from her home studio.
Trần Tú Ngân. Image courtesy of the designer.
This is my current work. I have moved away from making moodboards as I feel they frame my thinking too early. Instead, I touch fabrics and feel textures and picture something that might fit, search for materials that are made locally, go vintage shopping, look at things around me and sketch whenever an idea comes to me. There is always a magic to slowing things down. It is a more intuitive process that allows each collection to develop over time.
Ngân’s sketches. Image courtesy of the designer.
I still follow a made-to-order system. It is slower. Customers often have to wait, and sometimes it means less income. But I am okay with that. It allows me to produce more thoughtfully and stay true to the way I want to work.
Ngân’s small home studio in Hoi An. Image courtesy of the designer.
Mayne Studios is based in a small home studio in Hoi An, with a view of a garden in front and dogs and cats nearby. It is where I design, develop samples, pack orders and live.
Ngân’s snapshots from daily life. Image courtesy of the designer.
I collect snapshots from my daily life. They remind me of life's natural rhythm and often open up new possibilities when I feel stuck. Many ideas begin with these simple observations rather than a deliberate search for inspiration. This is why collections take a long time to create. I believe the right moment will come when it is meant to.
Latest lookbook shoot for Mayne Studios. Image courtesy of the designer.
This was our latest lookbook shoot. I handled most of the production, from renting equipment and booking the studio and model to styling and organising the day. My sister Uyên photographed the entire campaign. A few close friends came by to help with ironing, carrying things around and providing much-needed moral support. It was a simple production, but one made with a lot of care and teamwork. It was so much fun.
Follow @maynestudios and visit their website for more info.
About the writer
Trần Tú Ngân is founder and designer of Mayne Studios. She runs the brand with her sister Trần Tú Uyên. She has wanted to make clothes since childhood, when she would sketch beside her mother, a tailor. She creates garments for everyday life rather than occasions, making pieces that people return to often.