tagged w/ showroom
-
Two to Tango
Othello Khanh and Michele de Albert have known each other for two decades. Trung Phan spoke to them about their journey from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City and their two successful joint ventures - Gaya and Cantina Central. Photos by Khoa Tran.
Written by The Word Ho Chi Minh City
Tuesday, 18 November 2008 15:33
Old timers, veterans or just first to spot the opportunity, Othello Khanh and Michele de Albert’s 15 years in Vietnam have been all about renewal. Their latest project, the relocation of Gaya, is another milestone in the journey.
And yet, as with every venture here, while so much has been fruitful, it hasn’t all been plain sailing.
“We first met in Paris during the late 1980s,” recalls Michele de Albert. “Othello was involved with filmmaking and I worked in production design.”
The move from France to Vietnam first began in 1994 when Michele came to “discover new opportunities”. Othello followed suit the next year after wrapping up a documentary in Mexico. The talented duo found their own respective niches in Vietnam and continued to support each other before finally rejoining efforts in 2006. Today, along with a handful of other partners, Othello and Michele offer one of Ho Chi Minh City’s trendiest furniture stores and the town’s only authentic Mexican eatery.
The Highest Form of Flattery
When Michele arrived, the developing city we know today was in its incubation period. Cars were scarce, cyclos were aplenty and western-style stores did not exist.
“All the shopping streets that we know today like Dong Du, Dong Khoi and Nguyen Trai were occupied with endless stalls. Celadon Green was the first western-style shop in Saigon,” Michele says of the ceramic tableware store the she opened on Dong Du in 1994.
With Dong Khoi yet to transform itself into the über trendy, ultra expensive shopping haven it now is, when the opportunity to rent two lots on this street came up, Michele was quick to take advantage.
“I decided to open new shops,” she explains. “Precious Home sold lacquerware and followed a similar concept to Celadon Green, while Precious Ladies dealt in jewellery and accessories.”
As with any form of success in Vietnam, her three shops soon became the targets of imitation. According to Michele, the landlords took back the properties, only to sell identical products under a new name.
Ton That Thiep
Michele relocated Celadon Green in 2003 to the corner of Ton That Thiep and Pasteur. Besides Fanny Ice Cream and Temple Club, the street was still unknown, especially in regards to shopping. The opportunity to develop the street presented itself and the results today are indisputable: Ton That Thiep is one of the city’s trendiest destinations.
“There is no question that it was Michele’s effort to actively market Ton That Thiep that has turned it into such an attractive shopping area,” says Othello.
Othello and Michele soon renewed their business partnership. In 2006 they worked together on the film Saigon Eclipse, which he directed and produced while Michele did most of the production design.
“Michele was always into a number of trades from ceramics to homeware to jewellery,” Othello explains about the origin of Gaya. “So she suggested the creation of a showroom which could sell a number of different products by different designers.”
Michele provided the homeware, Lawson Johnston and Quasar Khanh added their furniture and Romyda Keth brought in her women’s clothing line. The formula worked and the space was quick to blossom.
At the same time, the two started to look at ways to develop Celadon Green. More imitation shops had opened up close by and they were hesitant to give up the property. For Othello, the solution was easy.
“I missed my tacos,” he says. “Winston Barrie, one of our friends, would often throw Mexican parties at home. So why not make a venue where I could get my fix of Mexican cuisine and host parties, not to mention the margaritas?”
Enter Cantina Central. Winston joined as a third partner, Arache Sahrai the manager of Gaya came in as number four, and Vietnam’s first authentic taco shop was born
“Actually, I pushed for Cantina Central so I wouldn’t have to spend half the day chopping onions at our parties,” laughs Othello.
New and Improved
The location of the new Gaya is located on Le Lai, parallel to the shopping street Nguyen Trai. Michele and Lawson Johnson wanted to expand Gaya and fell in love with the architecture of the Le Lai building. They rented it, renovated the 1974-built premises and moved the operations from Ton That Thiep. Othello was invited to join the venture and embraced the opportunity.
“A famous Vietnamese architect designed the building in the 1970s with a great view of the park across the way,” Michele says of the four-storied complex. “The concept remains the same with that of the previous retail space, with home décor, tiling, furniture and ladies wear all on offer. The showroom inside is just as eye-catching as the building itself, which you cannot miss driving down Le Lai.”
One of the unique features of Gaya is that all wares are made and designed locally using local products. The only foreign influence comes in the design.
“We keep all production in Ho Chi Minh City so there is complete quality control on the products,” explains Michele. “This also gives us an opportunity to communicate directly with our workers, who I consider to be artisans in their own right.”
Michele and Othello hope that the quality and flare of the new Gaya will “slowly bring more business and buyers to develop this neighborhood.” It’s been done once, so why not again? It’s a challenge which they look forward to.
http://www.wordhcmc.com/insider/160-general/81-two-to-tango
Contact us
For all export,
wholesale or,
other inquiries,
please contact:
Ms. Dror Lam
General Manager
1 Nguyen Van Trang Str, Dist.1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +848 3925 .1495
Fax: +848 3925 .1496
info@gayavietnam.com
http://www.gayavietnam.com/Two to Tango
Othello Khanh and Michele de Albert have known each other for two... more
-
-
Gaya's iconic 70's store has 4 levels of contemporary solutions for urban living. Lifestyle, fashion, furniture, home accessories and linen.
Gaya is the first international designer showroom in Vietnam. Gaya has sprung from a creative partnership between 5 international designers. The multi - level design store functions as both a retail outlet and export showroom for the designers.
Gaya brings its distinctive blend of lifestyle chic and fashion to the city.
Gaya commands the highest standards of international design, manufacturing practices, techniques and finishing, using local materials and craftmanship to produce items of unprecedented quality in Vietnam.
Michele De Albert
Michele De Albert modeled in Paris while studying law, but was naturally drawn to more creative pursuits. She was thrilled to evolve in the artistic Parisian scene as it fulfilled her creative aspirations and quickly started a company designing fashion and gift items. De Albert was struck by Vietnam during her first trip there in 1992. She decided to throw caution to the wind and moved to Saigon in 1994. The energy of Saigon, the friendliness of the people and the wealth of inspiration whether from colors or materials available enticed Michele to launch her own style of eclectic lacquer tableware and objects. Her sophisticated taste, bohemian lifestyle and flair for design and color have created collections filled with sensual appeal. In addition to Vietnamese workmanship and enthusiasm she has added her own unique touch of lacquer to traditional materials such as bone, silver, bamboo and ebony. Each piece of lacquer ware receives 12 coats of varnish, which are meticulously dried and polished during the process. The impeccable finish reveals the purity and refined simplicity at the heart of each of Michele De Albert's elegant collections.
Quasar Khanh
Armed with an engineering diploma from "Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees", Quasar Khanh initially worked on large civil urban projects where he showed grear flair for functional design. Over the years he has tackled everything from bicycles, bridges and fashion to inflatable furniture design. It is his love for combining art with enginerring that led him to design the renowned sand molded aluminum cast furniture available at Gaya. The process is lengthy and very detailed as each piece is individually molded, cooled, sanded and hand polished to give it a unique finish. With his multi - level tables, his comfortable yet eye-opening dining chairs and bar stools and an array of furniture and objects, Quasar Khanh is as inspiring as his creations, which blend function and timeless elegance.
Romyda Keth
Romyda Keth was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her diplomat family left Cambodia and settled in Paris in 1973.
After studying at Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris, she entered the Parisian fashion school Esmod. She immersed herself in the Parisian fashion scene, and began showing her creations in a small boutique. Through fashion shows and press interviews she has built a discerning and loyal clientele over the years.
In 1994, married and a mother, she came back to her Cambodian roots, and followed her passion of working with radiant fabrics such as Cambodian silk and organza. Her first small factory had just 3 employees at her house in Phnom Penh but the local craftsmanship, embroidery methods and diversity of colors encouraged her to pursue her dream of creating her own clothing line.
In 1999, she opened her first boutique in the heart of Phnom Penh and her success quickly became international. Romyda Keth is now presented in shops in Phnom Penh, HCMC, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, Manila, St Denis de la Reunion, and Mexico City.
Lawson Johnston
The stunning and environmentally friendly natural fibers available in Vietnam have inspired Lawson Johnston to design a range of contemporary lounge furniture. The mellow Australian combines materials such as water hyacinth or rattan with modern fabrics such as Teflon micro fiber or synthetic durable velvets. With 10 years experience in Vietnam, Lawson has participated in the development of furniture factories based on uncompromising quality and innovation and presents his various lines of furniture and home accessories at Gaya. His new collection includes outdoor furniture made from Polyrattan, a resin based material highly resistant to weather damage caused by exposure to the sun, rain or sea salt. The variety of materials, weaves and models available at Gaya will accommodate both individual buyers and selective professionals such as restaurateurs, resort owners and distributors.
Corinne Leveilley - Dadda
Chateau Panigon is a wine propriety located in the South of France, dating before the French revolution. Corinne Leveilley - Dadda wants to keep her family's prestigious traditions whilst bringing the brand Chateau Panigon and French "savior vivre" to the world, in products from wine to embroidery, both traditional arts and crafts of France. For the las 15 years her products have been chosen by Royal families, wealthy home owners, prestigious hotels and Hollywood stars, for whom her beautiful products are a must have for a luxurious lifestyle. Chateau Panigon linens are made from the most refined fabrics, with designs combining French taste with modern international style. The embroidery is made by hundreds of Vietnamese hands for whom canvas and needlework have also been a traditional craft.
Contact us
For all export,
wholesale or,
other inquiries,
please contact:
Ms. Dror Lam
General Manager
1 Nguyen Van Trang Str, Dist.1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +848 .925 .1495
Fax: +848 .925 .1496
info@gayavietnam.com
http://www.gayavietnam.com/Gaya's iconic 70's store has 4 levels of contemporary solutions for urban... more
-
