News

Future Retail Challenge Final Competition 2023

The prestigious Future Retail Challenge was back in person in April 2023 after COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted worldwide. This year, the PolyU team is made up of four SFT students: Herbie Chan (Year 3), Rika Lui (Year 4), Muskan Shah (Year 4), and Dora Xu (Year 3). The quartet flew to Barcelona, Spain  with their supervisors, Dr Magnum Lam and Dr Huang Tsai-chun, to participate in the exciting and intense event. The Future Retail Challenge student competition is a key component of the World Retail Congress. This year, students from five other universities, including the EDHEC Business School (France), ESCP Business School - Turin campus (Italy), Fashion Institute of Technology (USA), London College of Fashion (UK) and University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), competed in the challenge against the PolyU team. The teams were required to select a shopping mall in a non-prime position in their own city or country, which has a closed department store anchor and a large number of empty shops. The PolyU team proposed a new retail business model for the Arcade shopping mall at Cyberport on the southern side of Hong Kong Island. They adopted the latest AI technology, ChatGPT, as a means to attract shoppers to return to the mall by offering novel shopping experiences and seamless customer services. Drs Lam and Huang would also like to take the opportunity here to thank the PolyU advisors for their valuable advice to the team, including Mr Jimmy Chan, Head of Account Management of Farfetch; Mr Anthony Keung, President & CEO of Fenix Group Holdings Ltd; and Ms Tiffany Lam, Vice President – Marketing and Communications at Lane Crawford.    

Dr Jeongyeon Lee publishes in an impactful journal with on multifunctional polymeric phthalocyanine for new- generation of energy storages

Dr Jeongyeon Lee, Research Assistant Professor, recently published a highly impactful article entitled “Multifunctional Polymeric Phthalocyanine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Redox Mediators of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries” in Advanced Energy Materials (IF: 29.698), with Prof. Ho Seok Park and his team at Sungkyunkwan University. Dr Lee and his team members reported the synthesis of uniform triethylene glycol (TEG) functionalised polymeric cobalt phthalocyanines (CoPcs) coated onto the surface of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MCs) by using CoPc–MC conjugates. They discussed in detail the formation mechanism of such nanocomposites and explained how their structure is correlated to enhanced transport kinetics, high S loading, and long-term cycling stability when applied as S hosts in Li-S batteries. The novel S hosts offer five distinct characteristics for Li-S batteries:   The Co ions in the centre of the Pc functions as a redox mediator for LiPS conversion, which improves the reaction kinetics during cycling. Elemental N atoms around the Co ions efficiently donate electrons and create polar contacts with the Li atoms of LiPSs to prevent excessive LiPS dissolution. By acting as lithiophilic sites that can accommodate Li ions, the oxygen (O) atoms in the TEG linkers mimic the O atoms in 12-crown-4 (a crown ether) and reduce gradients in Li-ion concentration. The aromatic rings of the electrons of the Pc increase the electron transport in MCs. The TCP coating can inhibit the aggregation of Pcs on MCs, thus producing well-dispersed active metal sites. Dr Lee has extensively published various research articles in the most recent three years related to energy storage and conversion applications in the following journals: Advanced Energy Materials, Infomat, EnergyChem, Small, Small Methods, and Chemical Engineering Journal, and 8 other papers in SCIE journals.   References: Kim, Y., Kim, W. I., Park, H., Kim, J. S., Cho, H., Yeon, J. S., Kim, J., Kim, Y.-J., *Lee, J., *Park, H. S., Multifunctional Polymeric Phthalocyanine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Redox Mediators of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2023, 2204353. (https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202204353)

Joey Choi and Grace Wong shortlisted for the 7th edition of Loro Piana Knit Design Award

 On 6 April, the Loro Piana headquarters in Milan, Italy, held the Loro Piana Knit Design Award, an international competition dedicated to giving talented students their own creative interpretation of various iconic yarns that represent the excellence of the Maison.  Two BA final year students, Joey Chan and Grace Wong, were shortlisted for the opportunity to develop a creative idea that focused on the theme "Regenerate" – to reuse the fibres and materials provided by Loro Piana to innovate and enhance the value of the Maison’s exclusive yarns by playing with the available colours and using stitches to give rise to new weaves and textured forms. The five other participating design intuitions at the Loro Piana Knit Design Award were: the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, USA); Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, UK); Donghua University (Shanghai, China); Università Iuav di Venezia (Venice, Italy), and Institut Français de la Mode (Paris, France). The champion went to students of the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Casablanca X Cotton Incorporated X PolyU Fashion｜Bedding Design Final Competition

Jointly organised by SFT, Casablanca HK and Cotton Incorporated, the “Casablanca X Cotton Incorporated X PolyU Fashion｜Bedding Design Final Competition” and Award Presentation Ceremony were successfully concluded on 31 Mar 2023. This competition is a collaborative project sponsored by Casablanca, a renowned luxury bedding brand in Hong Kong, as well as Cotton Incorporated, a global non-government organisation (NGO) funded by cotton growers in the United States. Student contestants were required to design patterns for two sets of bedding and a quilt with fabric selected from an online fabric library on cottonworks.com. The theme “Technology in Nature” received top honours and was awarded a cash prize of HK$20,000. Congratulations to SIN Siu Shan, the Champion of the competition. The concept behind this theme is to explain the bond between technology and nature, which the design tells in a humorous way. Also, the design shows how technology fully harnesses the gift of Mother Nature. The one-of-a-kind design will be actualised and launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Casablanca this year. We thank the jury panelists, Mr Leo Cheng, Chairman of Casablanca Hong Kong Limited; Mr Ricky Cheng, Vice-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Casablanca Hong Kong Limited; Ms Angela Wong, Executive Director of Casablanca Hong Kong Limited; Ms Vivian Cheung, Marketing Director of Casablanca Hong Kong Limited; Ms Bonny Kwan, Associate Director, Supply Chain Marketing Asia of Cotton Incorporated; and all the participants of the competition.

DAFU x PolyU Fashion Sneakers Design Competition

SFT and DAFU Hong Kong joined hands to organise the Sneaker Design Competition, the award presentation was held successfully on 30 March 2023. The judging panel was composed of professionals from DAFU Hong Kong and Match Showroom. Twenty students were shortlisted as finalists in the competition, and their designs were showcased in an exhibition at STORE by PolyU Fashion from 21 March to 11 April 2023. Two awards were won by final-year student Wong Mei-wai for two of her designs: the championship for her design “Ballet/Retro/Elegant” and first runner-up for “Vintage/The 60’s/Hand Drawing”. Year 3 fashion design student Lai Chu-yi received the second runner-up award for her design “Peony/Traditional Culture/Innovative”. The Most Popular Design award was given to Year 1 student Poon Yi-lam for “PolyU/85th Anniversary/Future”.  

Dr Fan Di and Dr Huang Qi-yao recipients of NSFC Young Scientists Fund 2022

Two young SFT researchers, Dr Fan Di and Dr Huang Qiyao, have been recognised by the Young Scientists Fund 2022 of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for their research projects. The funding has been made available to Hong Kong researchers and universities for the first time ever. Each project is granted RMB 300,000 to support basic research work for three years. Dr Fan Di - Corporate Carbon Neutrality Goal Settings in Chinese Industrial Sectors: Antecedents and Consequences Climate change is a huge challenge, and countries are working to reduce carbon emissions. Companies play a significant role in the process, but many Chinese businesses have yet to set their own carbon goals. Their lack of participation can make it difficult for China to achieve its 2060 carbon neutrality target. In response, Dr Fan Di, Assistant Professor of SFT and member of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) and his research team explore why Chinese companies set carbon goals (or not) and what happens when they do. The research team believes that companies are more likely to set carbon goals if they have confident leaders, are close to their targets, and feel the need to protect the environment. They also think that setting goals helps companies to reduce emissions and boost profits. The team will study different Chinese companies and use experiments to test their ideas. The findings can help researchers, companies, and governments make better decisions about managing the environment and running businesses in a sustainable way. The research will show how setting environmental goals affects company success. Even if some companies are struggling, the team believes that setting carbon goals can help them prosper in the long-run. Policymakers can use the findings to support businesses in becoming greener, helping China to achieve its carbon reduction targets and improving life for everyone. Dr Huang Qiyao - Study on the structures and performance of energy storage textiles enabled by tailored fiber placement With the rapid development of smart electronic textiles that are lightweight, multifunctional, and can be integrated into various structures, the corresponding power systems needs to have  high energy performance, excellent flexibility, and wearability. Developing fibre-based energy storage devices for direct integration into textile electronic devices is a promising strategy to achieve the wear comfort and durability of wearable electronics. However, current fibre-based energy storage devices are vulnerable during the fabrication and integration processes which leads to performance degradation and even failure.  Dr Huang Qiyao, Assistant Professor of SFT and member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), aims to develop a universal approach to achieve the flexible fabrication and integration of fibrous electrodes into flexible battery textiles. In this project, high-performance flexible electrode fibres will be developed, and then integrated into battery textiles via a simple embroidery technology[WL1]. Through the rational designs of materials and structures, optimisation of device configurations, and a study on the failure mechanism of such batteries upon fabrication and mechanical deformation, the stability of the structure and electrochemical performance of battery textiles shall be greatly improved. More importantly, new types of flexible battery textiles with customisable configurations will be fabricated. The success of this project will provide new scientific insights into the study of energy storage textiles, and new knowledge for the fabrication and integration of fibre-based batteries in applications of smart electronic textiles and wearable electronics. Prof. Christina Wong, Director of Research and Innovation at PolyU, said, “We are thankful for the support from the NSFC Young Scientists Fund for Hong Kong researchers, which will facilitate and strengthen our research projects and the professional development of our scientists. PolyU has exceptional scholars and experts who are committed to interdisciplinary research work that have real impacts on the technological, social and economic development of Hong Kong and China."

Shah Muskan Sunish won The Most Outstanding PolyU Student Award 2022

Year 3 student Shah Muskan Sunish, who is pursuing a BA in fashion retail and marketing, was selected as the Most Outstanding PolyU Student of the Year and received the Outstanding Student Award of the School. This award is given to recognise full-time final-year students who have excelled in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies. This year, 28 students were selected as outstanding students at the faculty/school and/or departmental levels. The award presentation ceremony was held on 20 March 2023 in the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre at PolyU. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, officiated at the ceremony and presented the awards to the students. Muskan has received multiple awards and scholarships during her studies and actively participated in various activities. She is also the co-founder of Rethinking Fashion, an Instagram page focused on sustainable fashion. “Words can’t describe how grateful and honoured I am to be selected as the Most Outstanding PolyU Student of the Year,” shared Muskan. “Studying at PolyU has helped open my mind to all options. Thanks to the University’s great network and internship opportunities, I have had the chance to further broaden my career horizon and understand the Hong Kong working landscape better.” After graduation, Muskan aspires to develop her career in sustainable development in Hong Kong and to pursue an MBA to gain business acumen.  

The Hong Kong Next Fashion Talent Award

Project brief Fill in the online application form and submit your artwork to sft.nft@polyu.edu.hk on or before Friday, 30 June 2023 at 12:00 noon (Hong Kong time)

2023 Sustainable Fur Design Competition

Congratulations to the champion Lau Sze-yuet Moon and three other finalists Chiu Man-ka, Chung Wing-sum and Lee Chun-hei of the ‘2023 Sustainable Fur Design Competition’! All are year-3 students studying BSc (Hons) in Digital Fashion. They showcased their creative designs and impressed the audience and judges by their strives for sustainable fashion in the competition held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 22 Feb 2023. The Competition, organized by Hong Kong Fur Federation, has a strong focus on sustainability of upcycling, recycling, reusing and transforming vintage and waste fur into a biodegradable, relevant and contemporary new design. The Federation has been hosting the competition since 1987. The event aims at promoting the originality of fur fashion by kindling the interest of local design students in an attempt to recruit young talented designers for the industry. The 4 students joined the competition as a programme-and-industry collaborative project and were shortlisted, out of a few hundred of contestants, as top 10 finalists for the final show and competition. Moon Lau with her design entitled “The Great Wave” won the overall champion in the competition that night, receiving a cash prize of HK$30000 plus other rewards including a study trip to Finland. About the Hong Kong Fur Federation (HKFF) FFF was established in 1979 to coordinate fur trade activities and promote its development. Today it is a thriving organization with over 150 members, representing the vast majority of the industry in Hong Kong. With the exception of fur farming, the Federation comprises members from all sectors of the industry, from raw material distribution and processing (skin dealers and skin dressers) to manufacturing and marketing. Every year the Hong Kong Fur Federation organizes a programme of activities in Hong Kong and overseas to promote the fur industry. Empowered by its own ingenious flexibility and creativity, as well as with the full support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in various events, the Hong Kong fur industry has bloomed with flying colors. In the years to come, the Hong Kong Fur Federation will strive to uphold the statue of Hong Kong as the world's premier fur manufacturing hub and exporter through a comprehensive array of promotions and marketing activities.

Fashion in the metaverse

The Year 3 BA students recently designed creative luxury products and created business proposals to reimagine a better store experience and engage with consumers in the metaverse. SFT has quickly adapted to technological trends, which supports our digital curriculum and educates our students on ways to leverage new, digitally-native platforms like the metaverse in order to stay on top of industry demands. Student Project Showcase Students Hui Hei Yan, Jim Yu Ching, Ko Sze Nga, Chau Yin, and Lai Chu Yi incorporated 3D smart mirrors and AR glasses rendering techniques within the metaverse, building a futuristic virtual metaverse of fashion for the French luxury fashion brand Balmain, through which the brand can appeal to a younger clientele. Inspired by Ralph’s Coffee at Harbour City, students Minkyeong Bae and Jiyeong Ko proposed a business plan and metaverse game to raise awareness of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiative by Ralph Lauren: “Patience is Bitter, but the Result is Fruitful”. In the game, consumers can grow fruit fibers in the metaverse, exchange them for NFTs, and use these digital assets to buy a Ralph Lauren Earth Polo shirt.