Tri, 47, has been detained for “facilitating the illegal use of narcotic substances,” the HCMC police said Wednesday. Officers said they raided his apartment in Tan Hung Ward on June 23 and found him using drugs.

Tri built his reputation over a 25-year career designing sophisticated, structured eveningwear using Vietnamese materials such as silk, organza, and taffeta. Though initially known only within Vietnam, his international breakthrough came when billionaire singer Rihanna appeared in an advertisement wearing one of his “Em Hoa” (Flower Girl) designs—a collection inspired by the flower vendors of Vietnam, according to the South China Morning Post.

After that moment, a wave of global stars began choosing his creations for red carpets and magazine covers. “I am so proud. Designs by a Vietnamese designer, all Vietnamese production, being chosen and worn by Hollywood stars,” Tri said.

Born in Da Nang, Tri showed artistic promise from a young age, excelling in school art competitions. He studied industrial fine arts at the University of Architecture and worked across various creative industries before launching his namesake label in 2002, widely considered Vietnam’s first luxury fashion brand.

His debut collection, “Green Leaves,” was inspired by stories of resilient Vietnamese women soldiers.

“In all of my collections … the characteristics that make a strong Vietnamese woman are always conveyed or hidden in my design, even in the material,” Tri said.

In 2014, he became the first Vietnamese designer to be named a member of the Asian Couture Federation, according to Flavors.

Tri made waves at Tokyo Fashion Week in 2016 with a collection using Lanh My A silk, a rare, highly skilled textile from the Mekong Delta.

His “Em Hoa” collection was spotted by Rihanna’s stylist at Tokyo Fashion Week – who promptly ordered three designs. Two years later, Tri became the first Vietnam-based designer to showcase at New York Fashion Week.

His global breakthrough came in 2019 when he presented at both Tokyo and New York Fashion Weeks.

In the year he marked two decades in fashion with “The Silent Cube,” a contemporary art exhibition praised for its international scope and meticulous execution. That same year his collections “A Walk to the Stars” and “Picking Dewdrops” were showcased at New York Fashion Week, and drew attention to their artistic depth and technical mastery.

His designs have been featured in international media and worn by global stars including former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, singers Beyoncé, Adele, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and Rihanna, actors Margot Robbie, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Zhang Ziyi, and supermodel Heidi Klum.

“Making our names in the world fashion industry is the result of a long process of hard work,” Tri said, humorously adding that his own formula was working 18 hours a day.