Text by James Pham - Oi Vietnam - March 2020.

Travel and fashion have always gone hand in hand. Vibrant market colors that find their way into prints, daring Harajuku girls who wear their outlandish outfits with confidence, magical moments in sacred spots—they all have the power to spark inspiration. 

Born in Saigon, raised in India, worked in London, now living in Singapore, luxury leather brand Dominique Saint Paul founder Dominic Price knows a thing or two about travel. “Looking for inspiration in far flung places, enjoyment of different styles in different countries” fuels some of this ex- banker turned shoe designer’s gorgeous leather designs, pairing classic European style with exquisite Vietnamese craftsmanship.

Even the Saigon-based team behind Dominique Saint Paul hails from around the globe, comprised of an English business manager and an artisan from Vietnam who heads the team of artists responsible for hand-colouring the imported leather.

Just like no two travel experiences are the same, each Dominique Saint Paul product is a one-of-a-kind piece of art thanks to the hand-colouring patination which sees a piece of unfinished raw crust leather hand-dipped or hand- applied in layers of Italian dye to create identical or contrasting colours. Italian creams and waxes add a bright, lustrous finish before the leather is handcrafted into shoes, bags, belts, wallets, cases, and other goods. The result is pieces that are timeless as Angkor with a natural beauty recalling the hills of Dalat, a true journey of discovery and luxury.