Nga Nguyen is no stranger to online scrutiny, for that she has nearly 85,000 followers on Instagram alone. But even that did not prepare her for what was thrown her way in March 2020.
With the timing of coronavirus outbreak in Europe coinciding with Milan and Paris Fashion Week, which she attended, the Vietnamese native was quickly dubbed fashion’s ‘Patient Zero’ by the New York Times. She has received wide criticism from media and the public, naming and shaming her and her sister for contracting and subsequently bringing the virus to the UK, and later onto Vietnam. Merely a year after what the 28 year-old described as a “rollercoaster” and “difficult time” (which saw her shutting her Instagram account to the public for an extended period of time), Nguyen has resurfaced on social media with a fresh look and a whole new identity: entrepreneur and co-founder of N.G.A., her namesake range of stylish self-care and sanitizing products for personal use.
N.G.A., or Never Go Alone, is an experiential self-care brand that was born in the midst of pandemic, aiming at empowering one to live and travel responsibly in times of unprecedented change. The first product to ignite the launch will be a candle that is available to order from 8 March, in celebration of International Women’s Day. Speaking of her choice of launch date, Nguyen does not hesitate: “As we celebrate the greatest achievements by women both past and present, let’s remember to celebrate our own achievements today and everyday. Especially in these times of uncertainty,let us be kind to ourselves and those around us; spreading hope, good vibes and inspiration.” Nguyen also notes that the N.G.A. team is 75% female.
It is clear that Nguyen wants her first ever product to be optimistic, uplifting, and aid in the assimilation of new ideas. The Sandstone candle emits the signature Never Go Alone (N.G.A) orange glow, meant to offer emotional strength in difficult times.“Orange is the color of emotional balance and said to promote positivity, creativity, and to encourage self-respect and respect of others.” Nguyen tells me.
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From our interview, my impression of Nguyen is bubbly, enthusiastic, incredibly candid, and surprisingly, not at all diva-ish as how she appears on Instagram. She was open to discuss her weeks of hospitalization in London (where she contracted the virus, as opposed to in Milan as most were led to believe) and how the whole experience changed her as a person and taught her to appreciate the smaller things in life.
Currently spending most her time in Paris with her mother and a Pomeranian puppy named Louie (Louie even has his own Instagram account), Nguyen’s day-to-day life has changed drastically from a mere year ago. She sees the silver lining in her personal COVID experience and wants to do something good out of it by focusing her energy on positivity and growth. That’s when the concept of N.G.A. was born, in the midst of the pandemic, during Nguyen’s recovery in hospital.
“I’ve always been looking for a project. People would often assume I want to do fashion or art, but that’s not where my talent lies. I can’t draw,” Nguyen says, “I love design and creative art. With what I had gone through, the idea of a beautiful line of self-care sanitizing products with multi sensory approach just naturally came to me.”
It is clear that the line very much acknowledges the different world we are in today as compared to 12 months ago, and the emphasis we now place on personal hygiene. Nguyen wants to showcase a functional line of products to adapt to the new normal, allowing us to embrace and be proud of the experience and get on with normal life. “And never have to be alone or take on this journey without being adequately protected.” Nguyen adds.
The line is undoubtedly pleasing to the eye, with a sleek and distinctive design that few products in the market can rival with. The GO mask from the range is very much style oriented and in line with the current athleisure trend. “Everyone is making masks, but most are face coverings that are made from existing fabrics various brands already hold in their inventory,” Nguyen tells me, “we did such extensive research to identify the suitable material as we don’t want to compromise on functionality.”
As a newbie to the industry with her three other core teammates, a lot of time has been spent on the composition as well as the sourcing of each fabric type. The mask itself is manufactured in Milan, but the ear-loop part is actually made of material sourced from Japan. Nguyen tells me that the masks are super light and comfortable and comes with a chic pouch so one can easily keep it in bags or pockets whilst carrying on with daily life. The mask is not a medical grade surgical mask but is antibacterial and can offer adequate day to day protection. The Go Mask comes in two sizes and three colorways, and can be washed and reused for up to 10 times.
The sanitizing treatment mist and hand cream, which will be available from late Spring, form part of the inaugural collection. The treatment promises to elevate the everyday sanitizing experience by introducing nourishing ingredients and a subtle yet invigorating fragrance that lingers on the skin. “They contain the required percentage of alcohol (65%) to be labeled as sanitizing, but with our products you will never smell like tequila shots on a Monday morning.” Nguyen also promises they do not leave streaks behind that may damage any bags or garments.
Speaking of how lucky she is to have such a solid team who helped her realizing this business venture, Nguyen also talks about the challenges that they all faced as a result of pandemic-imposed travel restrictions. She often works around the clock, as all four core team members are located in different parts of the world and timezones. “It is a learning experience with very hands-on involvement,” Nguyen says, “from marketing to logistics, from PR to e-commerce.”
I cannot not discuss style, fitness and beauty with Nguyen when I have her on the phone, for that before 2020, fashion was what she was known for. When queried about her personal preference, Nguyen says at the moment comfort and lounge wear trumps everything else. As contrary to what you may think judging from her Instagram looks, Nguyen is more of a pantsuit sort of girl and favors a power two piece with big shoulders and a nice coat over a gown any day. “It goes with my personality. I am very clumsy,” Nguyen tells me, “I love a nice suit with a twist, like jacket with a long cape or heavy embellishments.” She also loves a beautiful jumpsuit with a low neckline, with her signature slicked-back or wet-looking hair. She is not restricted to high-end designers (but admits she loves her labels), likes to mix and match using high street and branded items, and is not shy to be on the receiving end of attention.
Having lost over a stone since her recovery, Nguyen doesn’t have a specific fitness routine and definitely isn’t one to push food around. “I love food and can have 3 dinners in one night pre-pandemic because I hate saying no to friends!” Nguyen says with a laugh. But nowadays regardless of where and how busy she is, she goes out and takes 10,000 steps before 10am. She also is a bit of a tomboy when it comes to skincare, mainly just using simple face wash and a toner without any extensive regime or drawers full of products.
Is there anything others don’t know about her? “Maybe that I am a lot friendlier than I appear,” she says after a pause to think, then laughs, “and that I am super clumsy.” She also loves languages and is currently learning Russian and German despite already speaking fluent Vietnamese, English, and French. She is excited for her baby project N.G.A. and can’t wait for people to see the next few collections that are already in the pipeline.
N.G.A. Sandstone Edition 1 Organic Wax Candle with matchbox are now available to purchase from N.G.A. official website and Instagram shop.
