A touch of Vietnam in Lübeck
What do I really like about Lübeck? Our city is shaped by people who, with their own cultural backgrounds, create something entirely new within its centuries-old walls. Thankfully, this has always been the case. Fresh ideas and goods, new trends and techniques arrived in the city with traveling merchants and craftsmen from many parts of the world.
For the Lübeck ZWISCHENZEILEN Today I'm visiting Mong Studio at Fleischhauerstraße 48 and speaking with the owners, Doan Trang Nguyen and Linh An Tran . Mother and daughter with Vietnamese roots, creative partners, two Lübeck natives with a keen sense for translating traditional Vietnamese and Asian designs into a modern aesthetic. Two women who combine the best of both worlds, placing them alongside the many who have shaped Lübeck's character.
Free space and serenity
My curiosity was piqued by the small shop during a spring stroll through the old town, which, as is well known, boasts a considerable number of jewelers. Some have been there for decades. This shop seemed new. My gaze fell upon the tastefully decorated window: a small ceramic bowl with a pearl necklace whispered to me:
"Just look. I'm a beauty who doesn't need a grand setting. You'll find more of my kind inside."
And just like that, I was standing in the shop. The understated interior design immediately captivated me: a large brick wall provides the perfect backdrop for the handcrafted treasures displayed on wooden tables. Simple colors and an uncluttered design, just the way I like it: a vase here, a few individually arranged flowering branches there. The owners were working in the next room, and I learned that Mong Studio had actually only opened in March 2024. I decided to come back with a bit more time for an interview. And here we are!
Kaito and Mong
Two distinct jewelry designs are housed under the shop's roof: Kaito , the brand under which Doan Trang offers her pearl jewelry, and Mong , the gold and silver jewelry line developed by Linh An. The selection is complemented by an exquisite assortment of Vietnamese ceramics, which Doan Trang brings back from her travels. Timeless elegance characterizes these handcrafted pieces.
The story of this mother-daughter duo began several years ago. Initially, Doan Trang, a trained fashion designer from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), sewed clothes and bags from fabrics she brought back from her travels to Vietnam. During the pandemic, she discovered her passion for creating jewelry from high-quality beads. At the time, Linh An was still attending the School of Applied Arts in Lübeck, from which she graduated in 2021. It's no surprise that Linh An inherited her mother's creative streak. Working with her hands has always been very fulfilling for her: knitting, crocheting, drawing, designing, photographing, and macramé. In 2022, Linh An's heart truly began to beat for jewelry making.
Less is more
Sitting in comfortable armchairs with a cup of tea, Linh An tells me that she taught herself most of her skills. She is a serious and thoughtful young woman who can immerse herself in specialist literature for hours. Her intensive self-study is far from over. Currently, Linh An is working with the so-called "lost wax casting" method. This lost-wax casting technique is thousands of years old and used to create delicate jewelry. She simply enjoys experimenting and has thus developed her own unique style. The young designer recently completed a three-month advanced training course in South Vietnam.
Being able to draw inspiration from both cultures is a great privilege for her. Linh An browses through art books and books on Asian art, considering how she can incorporate traditional motifs and centuries-old stories from her family's homeland into her unique pieces. Every trace of the creative process bears Linh An's signature and forms the basis for unique creations in silver and high-carat gold. These delicate beauties are allowed to be imperfect and tell their own story.
Design in the Dornse
Right next to the shop is the studio of the two craftswomen, located in a former "Dornese," . This term referred to a heated room used for meetings or as an office. The building was first documented in 1295, with the butcher Jacob van Kile being the first known owner. Naturally, it has changed hands many times since then, providing a home for generations of people over the centuries. What ideas have been developed here? Today, two dedicated women are working on unique designs.
Her gaze falls through the glass windows onto the verdant summer courtyard. And her thoughts always drift to Vietnam, where part of her family still lives. Mong, by the way, derives from the Hmong hill people , who live primarily in the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China. They are famous for their intricate embroidery, their colorful traditional clothing, and their extraordinary ability to create true works of art from simple materials. A perfect fit!
The owners share their creative process with their followers, including on Instagram. How do you best care for your pearls? How does an idea become a finished piece of jewelry? Where do the materials come from and how sustainable are they? Get a first impression online and then visit the studio in Lübeck's old town to talk to Doan Trang and Linh An.
