From 10 to 19 May 2026, SFT in collaboration with Yunnan University (YNU) and the Philanthropy and Commonweal Federation of Wenshan Prefecture, successfully executed a transformative offshore service-learning journey in Yunnan, China. Under the leadership of Prof. Jin Lam, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the GUR Service-Learning subject “Community Engagement through Expressive Textile Arts and Fashion”, 36 PolyU students joined forces with 18 YNU students and 18 local female ethnic minority practitioners of "Paohua embroidery" (泡花繡 — a provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage) in Dongsheng Village of Xichou County in Sichuan Province, to co-create a groundbreaking contemporary fashion collection.
A pedagogical breakthrough: Merging intangible cultural heritage with AI technology
This year's programme pioneered an innovative, technology-supported co-designing framework. To sustain high instructional quality and drive pedagogical innovation, Prof. Lam spearheaded a major breakthrough by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into a heritage preservation process. During the intensive field workshops, the students systematically captured and digitally archived the traditional Paohua embroidery process step-by-step.
This newly established digital archive is being used to train a future AI co-designer tool, which will serve as an interactive design assistant and a real-time translation bridge to overcome regional dialect barriers. By fusing technology with traditional craftsmanship, the programme enabled the students to overcome linguistic limitations, foster deep mutual respect, and develop a profound appreciation for conserving Chinese heritage.
The co-designing journey: Crafting stories of pride and culture
The 54 students and 18 ethnic minority artisans were grouped into collaborative co-designing teams, with each consisting of two PolyU students, one YNU student, and one local artisan. Working under the core philosophy of expressive textile arts as a healing and caring medium, each team explored the personal narratives and memories of the artisans to establish a unified thematic design board.
Prior to the trip, the students created design sketches, sourced for materials, and prepared tech packs. In Dongsheng Village, they worked side-by-side with the artisans, learning traditional stitches while guiding them to adapt their techniques to contemporary fashion silhouettes. Each team produced a complete cohesive collection of 4 to 5 physical pieces, including garments designed by the PolyU and YNU students, alongside a bespoke fashion piece handmade by the artisans themselves.
The climax: An empowering village catwal
The ten-day programme culminated on 15 May 2026 in a spectacular, emotional mini-fashion show held right in the heart of Dongsheng Village. Breaking away from traditional runway formats, the local female ethnic minority artisans, and YNU and PolyU students stepped onto the catwalk together as models, proudly displaying their co-created contemporary masterworks.
The runway show was far more than a demonstration of design prowess; it served as a social advocacy platform. By presenting their expressive textile creations, the local women regained their inner confidence, embraced their self-worth, and celebrated their unique cultural heritage. The collaborative experience successfully established a supportive, inclusive, and caring community, which left both the students and village artisans with a deep sense of national identity, mutual respect, and shared cultural pride.
