Who Is CHATS by C.Dam? Cuong Dam and the Sculptural Hanoi Label

CHATS by C.Dam is the ready-to-wear label of Cuong Dam, a Vietnamese designer who studied architecture before he turned to clothes. The work looks like it: long, close-cut dresses whose drapes are fixed into the pattern, padded shoulders, attached shawls, and a polished metal bar placed exactly where the folds meet. Coveti carries 156 pieces across 58 styles, from $620 to $3,270.

This profile covers who Cuong Dam is, how the label started, what makes a CHATS by C.Dam piece recognisable, how the sizing works and which pieces to look at first. Every fact about the house is sourced at the end of the page.

Key facts

• Designer: Cuong Dam, founder and creative director, trained as an architect at the Hanoi University of Architecture.
• Base: Hanoi, Vietnam. CHATS opened on Tay Son street in the Dong Da district after Cuong Dam graduated in 2013.
• House: CDAM, which the brand dates to 2014, describes itself as a modern fashion house in dialogue with art and sculpture.
• Made in: Vietnam, on every piece listed at Coveti.
• At Coveti: 156 pieces in 58 styles, 102 of them dresses, priced $620 to $3,270, sized UK 4 to UK 18.

From architecture to fashion

Cuong Dam graduated from the Hanoi University of Architecture in 2013, and he opened CHATS in Hanoi with a group of close friends soon afterwards, according to his interview with Tatler Asia. He later took a two-year fashion design course at the London Fashion and Design Institute in Hanoi, starting in 2018. The house itself says he brought an analytical mindset and a systematic approach to the study of fashion.

That background explains most of what you see. A drape on a CHATS by C.Dam dress is not left to fall; it is pinned into the construction so that it lands in the same place every time. Shoulders are padded and squared. Panels are cut long and allowed to cascade, but they start from a fixed point. The house calls the method sculpture translated into tailoring.

What a CHATS by C.Dam piece looks like

Four signatures repeat. The first is draping that converges at the hip, often held by a metal bar, which you will find on the Elion, Cetus and Keid dresses. The second is the attached shawl, a long panel of the same fabric that falls from the shoulder, as on the Alcor, Margu and Alpus dresses and the Selene coat.

The third is the padded shoulder, which turns even a jersey dress into something closer to tailoring. The fourth is colour: most styles come in three to six shades, so the Virginia dress is offered in Black, Brown Moss, Cerulean Blue, Maroon, Purple and White. Many evening dresses also come with matching gloves, 50 of the pieces at Coveti in all.

The fabrics

The house works mainly in stretch crepe knit, single jersey knit, twill suiting, wool suiting and knit suiting, with satin, faux fur knit and marbled leather on a few pieces. The knits are what make the close fit wearable: a fitted maxi dress in stretch crepe moves with you, while the drapes stay put. The suiting carries the jackets, trousers and skirts. The size guide explains how that affects fit.

Where to start

For a first piece, start with a long fitted dress, because that is the house at its clearest. The Sarah dress at $1,150 and the Virginia dress at $1,180 show the off-shoulder and caped versions of the draped jersey dress. For a statement, the Grimes dress at $3,190 is the most dramatic piece in the edit.

For tailoring, the Sagitta blazer and Mae blazer carry the same sculpted collars and metal details in suiting. The tailoring guide pairs each jacket with its trousers and skirt.

Buying at Coveti

Every piece is authentic and checked before dispatch. Delivery is by insured express courier, and most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid, so local duties and taxes are payable on delivery. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery, unworn and with the Coveti security tag attached. Full terms are in the logistics and returns protocol.

Five pieces that define the house

1. Elion Dress in Black, $2,680

A long dress featuring a symmetrical design with draping converging at the hips, accented by a premium metal detail.

2. Alcor Dress in White, $1,120

A peplum bustier dress featuring attached shawl.

3. Sarah Dress in Cerulean Blue, $1,150

An off-shoulder long dress featuring symmetrical draping at the chest and hips, highlighted by a premium metal accessory detail.

4. Sagitta Blazer in Black, $1,270

A wool suit jacket with sculpted collar structure and metal accessories.

5. Grimes Dress in White, $3,190

A strapless maxi dress with draping that converges at the hips.

Frequently asked questions

Who designs CHATS by C.Dam?

Cuong Dam, a Vietnamese designer who trained as an architect at the Hanoi University of Architecture. He is the founder and creative director of the house.

Where is CHATS by C.Dam from?

Hanoi, Vietnam. CHATS opened on Tay Son street in the Dong Da district of Hanoi, and the pieces at Coveti are made in Vietnam.

When was CHATS by C.Dam founded?

Cuong Dam opened CHATS after graduating in 2013, and the CDAM fashion house dates its founding to 2014.

What is CHATS by C.Dam known for?

Sculptural eveningwear and tailoring: long fitted dresses with draping that converges at the hip, attached shawls, padded shoulders and polished metal hardware, usually offered in several colourways.

How much does CHATS by C.Dam cost?

At Coveti, $620 to $3,270, with a median of $1,210. Dresses run $1,000 to $3,190.

Is CHATS by C.Dam true to size?

The house sizes in UK numbers from UK 4 to UK 18 against a body chart for bust, waist and hips, so take your usual UK size and check the chart.

Read next

CHATS by C.Dam dresses | the size guide | brands like CHATS by C.Dam | sculptural dresses, explained. Shop the full CHATS by C.Dam edit at Coveti.

Sources and method

Checked on 12 October 2026. Facts about the house come from the sources below. Prices, counts and colourways come from the Coveti catalogue on that date and change with the season.

• CDAM, About Us (the fashion house and its founder)
• Tatler Asia, interview with creative director Cuong Dam
• chatsbycdam.com, New Arrivals product pages (materials, silhouettes, size chart, made in)
• Coveti, logistics and returns protocol
• Coveti product data for the 156 CHATS by C.Dam pieces listed on 12 October 2026 (prices in USD, fabrics, sizes, colourways)

Gemma Deeks is Fashion Editor at Coveti. Prices and counts on this page were checked against coveti.com and chatsbycdam.com on 12 October 2026.