In collaboration with Agency Artclass, Vietnam
Every morning at 5:30am, a group of women living in the neighborhood of Tan Phu in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, meet to practice tai chi together. It’s a routine that encourages them to seek out quiet spots that will help infuse their exercise with a sense of calm. They meet in parks and squares; places brimming with flowers, plants, and other greenery—so much so, that the ubiquity and diversity of flowers in Vietnam has made them an integral part of the country’s culture and traditions.
 
Not long ago, I spent two months in Ho Chi Minh City with my aunt, embedding myself into the neighborhood and her life; her daily habits. Every morning, we’d stretch before going walking and partaking in collective exercise groups with her neighbors. The routine was like clockwork. And over the course of my time with her, I got to know and befriend the women she spent so much time with. This photo series is an ode to them.

Photographed in Tan Phu by an entirely local team, the women are dressed in a blend of traditional Vietnamese folk attire, contemporary accessories by local designers, and the flowers that surround them. It’s a series of visual stories that capture the essence of their everyday lives; a celebration of the beauty and strength of these women as well as the richness of Vietnamese culture and nature.

Talents: Mrs. Chi, Mrs. Phe, Mrs. Hao, Mrs Phuong, Mrs. Chin 
Creative direction: Jessica Diêm-My Pichet, Vic Lee 
Fashion direction: Freddy Nguyen
Producer: Thea Vo / Production Assistant: Hanh Dung
Stylist Freddy Styling Consultant: Minh Tuan Thu Anh
MUA: Xi Quan Le / Hair Stylist: Quan Le
Florist: Le Vien Phuong
Support: Nhu Khoi Minh Chien Hoang
Post-production and retouch: Eursa Major