Landmark fashion shows promote cross-cultural dialogue and showcase sports and urban culture
Thirty regions participated in the Belt and Road fashion event PolyU hosted two landmark fashion shows that demonstrated the power of creativity to unite cultures and energise urban life. As the flagship event of the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, the “Threads of Unity: Belt & Road Fashion Show” brought together 35 designers and professionals from 30 regions along the Belt and Road routes, spanning Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. This unprecedented gathering showcased 70 unique outfits, each blending modern fashion with traditional Chinese motifs and local cultural symbols.
Jointly organised by PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles, the Faculty of Humanities, and the Confucius Institute, the event used fashion as a vibrant medium to explore the interaction and integration between Chinese culture and global traditions, and to foster interdisciplinary research in fashion, art, and cultural exchange.
The two-day show was more than a runway; it was a platform for academic exchange and cultural dialogue. Activities included a fashion exhibition, cultural lectures, and hands-on workshops, designed to deepen participants’ understanding of traditional arts, crafts, and contemporary design from Belt and Road regions.
The two-day fashion exhibition showcased how designers from different regions interpret cultural exchange through their creations.
Cultural lectures delved into topics such as “Buddhism and Trade: Material Interactions along the Silk Routes” and “Chinese Textiles and the Silk Road: The Ho Chi Sze Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum”, offering insights into the rich tapestry of cultural and material exchanges along the Silk Road. |
Professor Guan Lansheng from Beijing Union University led a natural dye workshop where participants created fashion accessories inspired by Silk Road elements, emphasising the fusion of theory and practice. |
Participating regions included China (including Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, and Xi’an), Asia (such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, South Korea, Sri Lanka), Europe (such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia), the Americas (Argentina), Africa (Nigeria, Zimbabwe), and Oceania (Fiji), reflecting the broad multicultural reach under the Belt and Road initiative.
Dr Lam Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, remarked, “PolyU hopes that all sectors of society will work together, leveraging the Belt and Road national strategy and Hong Kong’s unique advantages, to transform the deep integration of fashion and culture into a common language across regions and ethnicities. This will help Hong Kong better integrate into the national development agenda, promote exchanges among peoples, and consolidate Hong Kong’s position of an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
A landmark celebration of fashion, sports and urban culture
Another fabulous fashion show, the “HONG KONG FASYNATES 2025: Fashion x Sports”, was held at Kai Tak Sports Park, featuring sports and urban culture. Jointly organised by the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), this two-day event transformed the city into a stage where fashion and creativity blended with the spirit of sports. The event fostered collaboration among industry leaders, key brands, and creative talents, energising the city with vibrant activities and building a dynamic ecosystem across fashion and sportswear.
At the "HONG KONG FASYNATES 2025: Fashion x Sports", five collections themed around car racing, running, fitness and gym training, street dance, and road running and hiking, respectively, reflected the synergy of movement and design.
The opening ceremony featured the “Move to Light” digital illumination show, created by world-renowned lighting designer and Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2021 winner Mr Tino Kwan. It was officiated by Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Professor Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Miss Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the Government of the HKSAR; Ms Wang Xin, former Olympic diving gold medalist and Sports Advisor of RISports; Dr Daniel Lee, Associate Director, Elite Training Science & Technology of the Hong Kong Sport Institute; Professor Erin Cho, Dean of SFT; Professor Zhang Ming, Director of RISports; Tyson Yoshi, Founder of Triplet; Mr Joe Wong, Director of Open Dialogue, as well as sports brand representatives and a group of young local designers.
The illumination ceremony was officiated by Miss Rosanna Law (centre); Prof. Wing-tak Wong (6th from left); Prof. Christopher Chao (5th from right); Miss Drew Lai (5th from left); Ms Wang Xin (4th from right); Dr Daniel Lee (3rd from right); Prof. Erin Cho (2nd from right); Prof. Zhang Ming (3rd from left); Tyson Yoshi (6th from right), and other industry leaders.
Highlights included a fashion show by SFT alumni, the “Skate to Style” performance by the All Hong Kong Skateboarders Association, and the “HONG KONG FASYNATES Bazaar”, featuring local brands and interactive workshops. The event celebrated the synergy of fashion and sports and reflected Hong Kong’s innovative spirit and creative energy.
Through these groundbreaking events, PolyU reaffirmed its role as a leader in cultural innovation, offering new platforms for designers and brands to explore the endless possibilities in which fashion, sports, and urban culture meet.
