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SFT students embark on seven-day cultural journey to Tianjin

Tianjin is a historic city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, which has been shaped over centuries by its unique port history and diverse local traditions. To explore this vibrant culture, a delegation of SFT students embarked on an immersive seven-day exchange programme to Tianjin on 23 June 2026. The trip was held under the theme, "Preserve Art • Dialogue • Mutual Appreciation – Excellent Traditional Culture and Arts of China: Tianjin, Hong Kong, and Macao Inheritance and Co-creation Practice." Co-organised by PolyU, Tiangong University, and Macao Polytechnic University, the initiative represents a powerful collaboration to foster cross-regional youth exchange and cultural preservation. During the intensive seven-day programme, the students participated in a series of hands-on workshops and cultural visits. Highlights included interactive sessions with celebrated masters of iconic crafts, such as Clay Figurine Zhang (泥人張), the national-level Yangliuqing woodblock printing (楊柳青畫莊), and the intricate Tianjin-style filigree inlay (津派花絲鑲嵌). To bridge heritage with modern innovation, the students also attended a seminar on "Intelligent Technology and Chinese Cultural Communication" to explore how digital tools can revitalise the traditional arts. The journey was complemented by local cultural visits, including a scenic cruise along the Haihe River. This collaborative journey successfully brought the three core dimensions of the project to life: · Preserve Art (守藝): The students traced the historical roots of Tianjin’s intangible cultural heritage by analysing how these traditional skills can be preserved for future generations. · Dialogue (對話): By working directly with master artisans, the SFT students explored potential collaborations, which combined traditional craftsmanship with modern design perspectives. · Mutual Appreciation (互鑑): Using art education as a shared journey, the programme provided the space for academic staff and students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Tianjin to co-create, thus ensuring that heritage education has been deeply embedded in all three communities. Through this experiential journey, the students not only gained a firsthand appreciation of Tianjin’s urban charm and artistic vitality, but actively contributed to the preservation, inheritance, and modernisation of China’s shared cultural legacy.

AI meets heritage: PolyU and Yunnan University students empower ethnic minority Yunnan artisans through AI-driven fashion co-designing process and village catwalk

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.

SFT × Cotton Incorporated × Open Dialogue: Activewear Design Initiative – Certificate Presentation Ceremony

Embedded in the class of "Introduction to Fashion Business" (SFT203FY), the Activewear Design Initiative, launched under PROFASHION Design Incubation Programme, is a student design project focused on developing activewear collections with cotton fabrics as the core material. The initiative was supported by Cotton Incorporated and Open Dialogue, whose collaboration SFT greatly appreciates. Dr Bonny Kwan, Director of Supply Chain Marketing Asia at Cotton Incorporated, together with her colleagues, contributed to the initiative by delivering lecture on the latest cotton materials for activewear, with particular emphasis on sustainability. Cotton Incorporated also provided sponsorship for the realisation and production of the selected designs. Mr Joe Wong, Director of Open Dialogue, further supported the initiative by sharing his professional insights and experience in activewear branding and retailing, enriching students’ industry understanding. Through the initiative, students developed activewear design proposals applying cotton in functional and contemporary contexts, resulting in 64 submissions, of which four were selected for realisation and exhibition. Officiated by Dr Bonny Kwan, the Certificate Presentation Ceremony marked a significant milestone for the participating students, recognising their creativity, commitment, and professional growth. SFT sincerely appreciates the steadfast support of its industry partners and looks forward to continued collaboration in fostering industry-connected learning opportunities.

Belle Lau and Ashlee Lee awarded Innovation and Technology Scholarship 2026

The School is proud to announce that two BA students, Belle Lau (Fashion Innovation and Technology specialism) and Ashlee Lee (Contour Fashion and Activewear specialism), have been awarded the Innovation and Technology (I&T) Scholarship 2026 in the “Multi-disciplinary Technology and Others” and “Sustainability and Green Technology” categories, respectively. Jointly organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), HSBC, and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), the award presentation ceremony was successfully held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 2 June 2026. After a rigorous selection process, the Awardee Selection Committee determined that Belle, Ashlee, and 23 other outstanding local undergraduates not only demonstrate academic excellence and a strong passion for I&T, but also innovative thinking and a sense of social responsibility. Their academic backgrounds span a spectrum of disciplines, including medicine, science, engineering, global business and finance, fashion, information and artificial intelligence, as well as technology and management, thus reflecting the diverse and integrated I&T capabilities of local youth. About the Innovation and Technology Scholarship Jointly established in 2011, the I&T Scholarship aims to inject new impetus into local I&T development by nurturing undergraduates with a passion for technological innovation. Over the years, the Scholarship has cultivated over 375 young individuals and exposed them to global perspectives through a series of elite-nurturing initiatives, thereby enhancing their experiences and skills while they explore I&T possibilities across various disciplines.

Cherry Cheng receives 1st Runner-up in Female Trendy category at IFDC 2026

SFT is thrilled to announce that our outstanding student, Cheng Hei-lam, Cherry, received the 1st Runner-up Award in the Female Trendy category at the 2026 International Footwear Design Competition (IFDC). Her design, “Morning Dews”, stood out at the competition which was organised by the Confederation of International Footwear Association (CIFA). The award presentation ceremony took place on 20 May 2026 in Guangzhou, China. Cherry’s design was inspired by her mother’s favourite flowers found in every corner of their house. She applied a French beading technique to create the flowers, which mimics the reflection of water on the petals. Using clay and wire, Cherry provided structure to the piece, while decorative ribbons referenced the plant ties wrapped around flower pots. The design extended the bottom to create a border, which represented the delicate nature of the petals. About the International Footwear Design Competition (IFDC) The IFDC highlights the significance of shoe design in the evolving footwear industry. The event encourages originality and advances design vision while fostering product research and development to enhance competitiveness. The competition also nurtures designers in shoe manufacturing and design by recognising outstanding performances with prestigious awards.

Cross-regional exchange of knowledge and expertise: The 1st International Conference on Advanced Materials, Surfaces and Interfaces for Green Engineering

Advancing Ecological Transformation through Materials Science As the global demand for sustainable development intensifies, the field of advanced materials, surfaces, and interfaces has emerged at the forefront of ecological conservation. To address the related challenges, the 1st International Conference on Advanced Materials, Surfaces and Interfaces for Green Engineering (AMSIGE-1) was held at PolyU from 8 to 10 May 2026. Collaborative Leadership and International Exchange The conference was jointly organised by SFT, Southeast University, and the Jiangsu–Hong Kong–Macao University Cooperation Alliance (JHMUA), and supported by the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), and ESG Research and Sustainable Fashion Hub. Chaired by Prof. Fei Bin of SFT and co-chaired by Prof. Jian Chen of Southeast University, AMSIGE-1 catered to an international open community that bridges cutting-edge materials science with robust green engineering practices. The conference convened more than 90 participants, including distinguished scholars, industry experts, and research students, and featured 17 keynote speakers, 24 invited presentations, and 27 high-calibre poster presentations. Core Themes: Translating Research into Sustainable Solutions The academic discourse was structured around three core themes that focused on translating materials science research into sustainable solutions: Theme I: Biology, Medical, and Healthcare Green Engineering  Highlights included breakthroughs in synergistic antibacterial materials, adhesion and growth materials, and advanced functional surfaces for non-toxic healthcare.   Theme II: Textile, Construction, and Transportation Green Engineering  Presentations focused on superhydrophobic materials, thermal and humidity management, and flame-retardant technologies to enhance the sustainability of buildings, transport systems, and apparel. Theme III: Sustainable Energy and Other Types of Green Engineering Experts exchanged insights on high-efficiency photoelectric conversion, heterogeneous catalysis, and thermal management materials to optimise renewable energy storage and other green engineering applications. Recognising Future Leaders in Green Engineering To celebrate the creativity and potential of emerging researchers, a number of recognition awards were presented at the event. These included the Best Poster Awards, Excellent Poster Awards, and Best Student Presenter Awards. Additionally, the Young Scientist Awards and Young Scholar Awards were conferred to recognise outstanding contributions. These honours underscored the conference’s commitment to empowering the next generation and reinforcing the role of young talents in advancing sustainable innovation.       Awardees of Young Scientist Award   Awardees of Young Scientist Award         Awardees of Best Poster Award  Awardees of Best Poster Award  Awardees of Best Poster Award  Some Final Thoughts By bridging the gap between fundamental materials science and green engineering, AMSIGE-1 has paved the way for a more sustainable technological landscape. The conference fostered a unique environment where knowledge co-creation took place among established experts and emerging scholars alike. As the event concluded, a clear consensus emerged that achieving sustainability requires both innovative material interfaces and collaborative global networks. Ultimately, AMSIGE-1 has established a benchmark for how regional synergy can catalyse international innovation, thus ensuring that advanced materials sciences remain aligned with the principles of a green, resilient future.     

Prof. Fan Jintu appointed Editor-in-Chief of Textiles

Prof. Jintu Fan, Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) and Chair Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Engineering at SFT , has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the international academic journal Textiles, effective 1 May 2026.  Currently ranked second among 31 journals in the “Materials Science, Textiles” category, Textiles is firmly positioned in the top quartile (Q1) and has an Impact Factor of 4.9. Its editorial board comprises 39 distinguished textile scholars from around the world.

SFT students at Future Retail Challenge Final Competition 2026

Lane Crawford sponsored four BA students for the Future Retail Challenge of the World Retail Congress: Burgundy Ann Lau, Ankie Leung, Ng Hoi-ching Etta, and Sin Wai-sum Kristina, who proudly represented PolyU in Berlin, Germany in April 2026. The competition is a highlight of the World Retail Congress, with the aim to inspire and engage the next generation of retail talent by bridging academic knowledge with real-world applications. The students embarked on this international journey under the supervision of Profs. Magnum Lam and Chan Hau-ling, who provided invaluable mentorship and guidance. This year, the competition challenged the teams to address the theme “Reimagining the Store in the Age of AI”. In response, the PolyU team developed an innovative strategic model for the beauty retail sector, anchored by the philosophy that “Technology Supports Decisions, People Build Trust”. Recognising that the modern beauty market is flooded with an overwhelming variety of products and choices, the students conceptualised a framework to eliminate consumer decision fatigue. Their proposed strategy highlighted the critical importance of integrating both the analytical precision of AI and authentic empathy of human beauty advisors in the future of retail. This synergistic approach can help retailers drive continuous innovation, offer highly personalised services, and more accurately conduct market forecasting. Furthermore, the proposed strategy empowers shoppers to confidently navigate a saturated beauty landscape so that they make logical and well-informed choices.   The team showcased their talents on a global stage, and competed against students from six other universities: École des Hautes Études Commerciales du Nord (EDHEC) Business School (France), ESCP Business School Turin (Italy) Campus, Fashion Institute of Technology (USA), London College of Fashion (the UK), University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and University of Cape Town (South Africa). Profs. Lam and Chan, along with the students, would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Ms Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group, for sponsoring the PolyU team’s participation in this prestigious international competition. Lane Crawford is empowering emerging talent and grooming the next generation by connecting young talents with invaluable opportunities in the fashion industry. In addition, Profs. Lam and Chan extend their sincere appreciation to the Dean of SFT, Prof. Erin Cho; Associate Dean, Prof. Joanne Yip; and Associate Professor, Prof. Ho Chu-po for their invaluable advice and support to the team.     About the World Retail Congress   The World Retail Congress is an annual event that connects influential leaders, executives, technology experts, stakeholders, and academics from around the globe to explore opportunities and tackle challenges within the retail sector.

SFT showcases cutting-edge research innovations at Fashion InStyle 2026

SFT is proud to announce our successful participation in Fashion InStyle 2026, held from 27 to 30 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). In the “Fashion Tech & Services” zone, SFT presented five cutting-edge projects designed to address the industry's most pressing challenges in sustainability, manufacturing efficiency, and high-performance textiles. Seven of our esteemed faculty members presented breakthroughs that redefine the boundaries of traditional apparel: Smart Textiles × Athletic Performance Led by Prof. Yick Kit-lun, Prof. Annie Yu, and Dr Gaby Shi Integrating advanced textile technology with biomechanics research, the exhibition showcases three breakthrough prototypes: performance compression socks for football players, seamless knitted sports bras for adolescent girls, and biofeedback-enabled smart compression gear. These designs combine novel knitting structures and new materials to enhance fit and thermal comfort, while embedding interactive technology into activewear to support, protect, and sense the body, thus advancing performance, preventing injury, and redefining the future of functional sports apparel. Recycling Coloured Silk Waste for Sustainable Fashion Led by Prof. Chen Jianming With the rise of fast fashion and expansion of the textile industry, determining how to address coloured textile waste has become more and more challenging. Addressing the environmental impact of the luxury sector, coloured silk waste is collected and made into coloured silk fibroin (CSF) solutions with excellent colour retention in our project. Interestingly, CSF solutions can be used to dye new yarns/fabric in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In addition, coloured silk waste can also be recycled into regenerated colourful silk fibres, which can be further weaved/knitted into garments without additional dyeing processes. The project ingeniously offers an alternative strategy for textile waste valorisation. Digital Transformation: Intelligent Decision Support System for Apparel Development Costs Led by Dr Cynthia Liang This project introduces a data-driven AI platform designed to revolutionise cost management in apparel research and experimental development. By integrating the cost factors of different elements, including fabric, trim, labour, and finishing, our system provides accurate cost predictions across 30 garment categories. Recognisingthat designers, procurement, and sales teams often have conflicting priorities, we utilise large language models (LLMs) to bridge these semantic gaps. Building on this alignment, the LLMs offer intelligent material and design suggestions within our predictive cost-control framework. This approach empowers teams to optimise sourcing and pricing during the initial design phase, thus achieving end-to-end digital cost management. Revolutionary Construction: From Surface to Form: 3D-Printed Self-Formed Pleats Led by Prof. Huang Tsai-Chun This project presents self-folded pleated textile pieces that transition directly from 2D surfaces into 3D structures through a one-time forming process. In contrast to relying on traditional manual pleating techniques, this is an innovative textile transformation method that is implemented by 3D printing onto textile. By shifting from manual craftsmanship to self-folding behaviour, this project proposes an alternative approach to textile design where textile materials can proactively shape themselves into structural forms. Furthermore, the pleats are generated without material removal or production waste, thereby highlighting a more sustainable pathway for pleat making. Thermal Comfort Innovation: iActive™: Intelligent Active-Perspiration Activewear Led by Prof. Dahua Shou iActive™ is a disruptive intelligent activewear platform that features artificial sweat glands and a root-like liquid transport system that actively manages perspiration. Unlike traditional sportswear, Active™ maintains a sustainably cool, dry and breathable skin microclimate that dissipates sweat up to three times faster than the maximal sweating rates, thus significantly enhancing wear comfort and performance. A companion smartphone app wirelessly adjusts sweat removal for personalised, data-driven control. When soaked, iActive™ activewear is up to 60% lighter and 50% less clinging than conventional gear. This activewear has broad, high-impact applications across sports, work, and healthcare in an era of global warming and extreme weather. 

SFT celebrates excellence at Outstanding Staff & Alumni Award 2025 Presentation Ceremony

SFT proudly hosted the SFT Outstanding Staff & Alumni Award Presentation Ceremony on 17 April 2026. The ceremony honoured ten distinguished SFT staff as recipients of the School Awards for Outstanding Achievement, alongside one exceptional alumna who was recognised with the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2025. The alumni honouree, Ms Kadri Keung (BA, 2014), was recognised for her leadership in inclusive fashion as Co-Founder of Rhys Workshop Limited and Founder of Boundless. Her impactful work in adaptive wear has received global acclaim, notably the DFA Design for Asia Grand Award and her inclusion in the BBC 100 Women of 2022. In an environment filled with feelings of well-earned pride, the awardees received their well-deserved honours and shared personal insights into their achievements, thus highlighting a collaborative spirit and their vision for the future of their field. This event celebrated their remarkable contributions, which united the SFT community in recognition of their excellence. Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award aims to recognise distinguished graduates of PolyU who have achieved distinction in their chosen fields, actively support their alma mater, as well as made impactful contributions to the wider community. For details on the awardee, Kadri, please visit here. The School Awards for Outstanding Achievement The School Awards for Outstanding Achievement recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of staff members in teaching, research and scholarly activities, knowledge transfer, and services. For details on the awardees, please visit here.