An editorial by Amanda Thơ Phạm and Linda Ha, featuring Kaarem outfits for Tết.
Tết is a time to gather, pay respects to ancestors, welcome Spring and celebrate the New Year. We carry on the rich traditions of Tết to celebrate and connect with our Vietnamese heritage. In moments where the future seems uncertain, connecting to our past gives us an opportunity to find a light to move forward.
To celebrate a fresh beginning to the year, many Vietnamese people wear new clothes to celebrate Tết. It is thought that bright colors like red, yellow or blue can bring good luck and prosperity to people for the upcoming year.
In preparations for the New Year, many families decorate their homes with colorful flowers. Hoa mai is most common in the southern region of Vietnam while hoa đào is popular in the North.
Bánh chưng is the soul of Tết, and making them is an ideal way to express gratitude to our ancestors and homeland. Bánh chưng, with its square-shape representing the Earth, is used as offerings on Lunar New Year’s Eve and to be shared with friends and family.
Placing a "five-fruit tray" on the ancestral altar during Tết symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of the Vietnamese to Heaven and Earth and our ancestors. It also demonstrates our aspiration for a life of plenty.
It isn’t a celebration without some rounds of Bầu cua tôm cá! This is a simple dice game with animal figures for lucky gambling.
Credits
Photography
Art Direction
Clothing
KAAREM
Model
Jie Zheng
Make-up
Florals
Nail Polish
Assist
Quỳnh Phạm
Text
About the Photographer
Amanda Thơ Phạm is a Brooklyn, NY based Vietnamese-American photographer and designer.
Visit: atpham.com
Instagram: @aphamphotos
Amanda Thơ Phạm #wearingkaarem.
Kaarem's Tết List
A few fun ways to welcome the new year:
✿ LISTEN ✿
Some of our favorite videos to welcome the spirit of spring.
Link: QUE's Tất Niên Tết Video Playlist
✿ EAT ✿
We are beyond thrilled to bring Australian-Vietnamese chef / person of the world, Bao La, back for another pop-up at QUE in Saigon on January 29th and 30th!
This edition, Bao created a Lunar New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner menu for Tất Niên Tết. A little bit decadent—this feast is intended to be shared with friends and family; to celebrate the end of the year and bring good wishes for the year ahead <3.
Link: Bao La x QUE Dinner Pop-Up for Tất Niên Tết
✿ MAKE ✿
We love how Diep Tran and The Banh Chung Collective have organized and inspired so many people in the U.S. to take on this tradition of collective Bánh Chưng making! With the support of Red Boat Fish Sauce, The Banh Chung Collective is going digital for this year. Purchase a Bánh Chưng kit or jsut a communal zoom ticket for February 6th and 7th.
Link: The Banh Chung Collective
✿ TẾT OUTFITS ✿
We've curated a selection of Tết Outfits for the Lunar New Year!
Link: Tết Outfits
✿ POP-UP SHOP ✿
San Francisco! Lunar New Year Pop-Up by Abacus Row from February 3-26th!
A pop-up of symbolic goods to prepare for the new year and to celebrate the arrival of spring. Alongside the release of Abacus Row's limited Lunar New Year collection, they've curated a shop of florals, fruits, apparel (Kaarem!), accessories and festive home goods to express hopeful and auspicious wishes for the year ahead. Shaped by the rituals and customs of our Vietnamese and Chinese heritages, our lunar new year pop-up is our own expression of these traditions.
Link: Lunar New Year Pop-Up Shop by Abacus Row
✿ ART ✿
Tết Installation at QUE!
The Kaarem studio team created beautiful origami cranes using 100% silk remnant from the studio. Each crane was carefully cut, fold and iron, bringing life again to the fabric remnant.
Link: QUE by Kaarem
✿ LUCK ✿
From our studio to you, read more about the making of our handcrafted silk Lì Xì and Wish Trinkets.
Also, a second small batch coming next week! Order yours today to arrive by the Lunar New Year.
Link: Introducing the Tết Collection
Related Features
Stories
Introducing the Tết Collection
For Lunar New Year, we are excited to introduce the Tết Collection, featuring reusable Bao Lì Xì / Lucky Lì Xì Silk Envelope Pouches and Dây Câu Chúc / Hand-Embroidered Lunar New Year Wish Trinkets, which symbolize peace and goodness.
Stories
Bao La x QUE Tất Niên Tết Dinner Pop-Up
SAIGON—We are beyond thrilled to bring Australian-Vietnamese chef / person of the world, Bao La, back for another pop-up at Que! This edition, Bao created a Lunar New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner menu for Tất Niên Tết. A little bit decadent—this feast is intended to be shared with friends and family; to celebrate the end of the year and bring good wishes for the year ahead <3.
Events
Lunar New Year Pop-Up in SF
We are excited to be part of Abacus Row's Lunar New Year Pop-Up in San Francisco! Save the dates: February 3-26th! A pop-up of symbolic goods to prepare for the new year and to celebrate the arrival of spring. Alongside the release of Abacus Row's limited Lunar New Year collection, they've curated a shop of florals, fruits, apparel (Kaarem!), accessories and festive home goods to express hopeful and auspicious wishes for the year ahead. Shaped by the rituals and customs of our Vietnamese and Chinese heritages, our lunar new year pop-up is our own expression of these traditions.