News

Advance Denim x MA Fashion and Textile Design collaboration

The MA in Fashion and Textile Design programme is proud to collaborate with Advance Denim, a highly respected denim manufacturer with the oldest denim mill in China. This partnership offers the MA fashion design students a unique opportunity to work alongside Advance Denim in creating a digital capsule denim collection. Our students immersed themselves in the world of denim by exploring its history and sustainable practices. Supported by our industry partners, they addressed sustainability challenges during the design phase through workshops and seminars. In April, the impressive designs by our MA students were showcased in a digital catwalk video at the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics. 28 students presented their work to an industry panel, and five winners were selected to produce a physical version of one outfit from their digital collection. Over the course of several months, they worked closely with the Advance Denim product development team in Shunde, Guangzhou. The resulting outfits will be showcased at the Hong Kong Denim Festival in November, which is excellent exposure for our talented MA students.  This collaboration exemplifies the School’s dedication to innovation and sustainability, while offering invaluable real-world experience to our students.

PolyU delegation visits Beijing and Tianjin

Led by Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman and Prof. Wing-tak Wong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost, a delegation from SFT visited Beijing from 12 October to 14 October, engaging in fruitful cooperation and exchanges with four local universities. Participating staff members include Dean Prof. Erin Cho, Associate Dean Prof. Joanne Yip, Assistant Professors Dr Huang Tsai-chun and Dr Jin Lam, Professor of Practice Dr Chen Zhiming, and PolyU's Mainland Development Office Director Prof. Lu Haitian. During the visit to Tsinghua University, in the presence of leaders from both universities, Prof. Cho and Prof. Ma Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). The MoU lays the foundation for further collaboration between the two schools, including faculty visits, student and academic exchanges. The PolyU delegation also visited the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing Union University and Tiangong University, to strengthen the collaboration with these top-tier fashion and textiles institutes.

Dr Shou Dahua wins distinguished achievement in fiber science

Dr Shou Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Assistant Professor, has been recognised by The Fiber Society with the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Fiber Science. This award is presented annually to an individual under the age of 40 who has made notable contributions to the field of basic or applied fibre science and materials engineering. The award presentation ceremony will take place at The Fiber Society’s Fall 2023 Technical Meeting and Conference in October 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The award recognises Dr Shou’s distinguished and important professional achievements in advancing the areas of personal thermal and moisture management, intelligent wearables, and soft robotics. Dr Shou says, “The Fiber Society’s Distinguished Achievement in Fiber Science award is a great honour for me. I am deeply committed to creating intelligent wear for better health, wear comfort, performance, and sustainability in the future.” Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “This achievement highlights the unwavering dedication of PolyU scholars toward research, consistently pushing the boundaries of academic knowledge and innovation. Dr Shou’s accomplishment has paved the way for future advancements in the industry, leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion and textiles.” Prof. Erin Cho, Dean of SFT also acknowledged Dr Shou’s contributions: “This prestigious recognition is a testament to Dr Shou’s expertise and intellectual prowess in the field of fibre science, as well as his commitment and perseverance in the pursuit of research excellence. Our School is thrilled by the fact that his groundbreaking contributions are being recognised on a global scale with this award.” Fibre, fabric, and fashion research works greatly emphasise thermal and moisture comfort, with Dr Shou leading the way in pioneering transformative technologies in this field. He has made significant contributions to moisture management and reported on the development of the world's first sweatable textile fabric: Sweatextile. This fabric enables fast, one-way liquid flow through spatially distributed channels that act like "sweating glands", while repelling external liquid contaminants. The study, titled “Skin-like fabric for personal moisture management” has been published in Science Advances. In addition to his other translational research endeavours, Dr Shou has developed a premium fabric named Omni-Cool-Dry, which drew inspiration from beetles. This fabric not only provides ultra-fast sweat dissipation and ensures all-day wear comfort with its cooling, drying, and breathable features under dynamic thermal conditions, but also reflects solar radiation and emits body heat into the environment, thus enabling passive cooling. Omni-Cool-Dry is an excellent solution for personal cooling, as heat records continue to be shattered globally. Furthermore, Dr Shou invented iActive, an intelligent, electrically-activated activewear designed for sweat management. These nature-inspired technologies, including low-voltage-driven artificial "sweat glands" and a root-like branching liquid transport system that aligns with the body's sweat map, can effectively and systematically remove sweat. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant demand for breathable and comfortable protective equipment. Dr Shou and his team developed “iFiber”, which leverages on advanced functional materials and wearable technologies and resulted in the first air-conditioned mask, Omni-Cool-Breath. As Principal Investigator, Dr Shou has secured nine external competitive research grants, including the General Research Fund/Early Career Scheme from the Research Grants Council; Innovation and Technology Fund from the Innovation and Technology Commission; and Environment Conservation Fund from the Environment and Ecology Bureau. He is also dedicated to developing innovative projects, such as soft robotic clothing for adaptive thermoregulation, an intelligent hip protector for the elderly, intelligent activewear with sweat-based health monitoring, and an all-textile solar steam generator for clean water production. With outstanding accomplishments in fibre science and wearable technology, Dr Shou has also received a number of international awards for innovation. These include consecutive TechConnect Global Innovation Awards in 2021 and 2022, as well as Silver Medal at the 2022 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member for seven leading SCI journals.

The legendary Sir Paul Smith inspires SFT students and staff

SFT was honoured to host an inspiring talk by renowned British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith on 3 October. The event was held on PolyU campus, and attracted nearly 300 students, faculty members, and alumni. Sir Paul Smith, known for his distinctive designs and unique approach to fashion, captivated the audience with his engaging storytelling and wealth of experience. The talk centred around his illustrious career, creative process, and the evolving landscape of the fashion industry. During his sharing session, Sir Paul shared anecdotes from his early days as a young designer, and emphasised the importance of perseverance, passion, and embracing individuality. He reflected on how he built his eponymous brand from humble beginnings, and highlighted the challenges that he faced and lessons learned along the way. He also shared the significance of creativity and inspiration, and the need for designers to embrace innovative ideas and practical designs. His insights resonated deeply with the audience. The talk concluded with a captivating Q&A session, during which the students had the opportunity to engage directly with Sir Paul. The event was a resounding success. Prof. Erin Cho, Dean of SFT, expressed her gratitude to Sir Paul for sharing his wisdom and experiences with the PolyU community. She stated, "Sir Paul Smith's visit has been truly inspiring for our students. His creative vision and passion for fashion will undoubtedly motivate our students throughout their design journey.”

Prof. Li Li ignites knowledge sharing and growth

Prof. Li Li, Associate Director of PolyU PAIR, and Director of the CR-PolyU Joint Research Institute for Carbon Neutral New Materials, hosted four research seminars over the past few months with the goal of igniting interdisciplinary dialogue and stimulating new ideas. The research seminars exposed the PolyU community to a wide range of knowledge that ranged from materials science and AI to textiles in architecture. Among the seminars, Prof. Gang Sun of the University of California, Davis spoke about “Applied textile chemistry: development of functional materials for improved personal protection and safety”; Prof. Xianyi Zeng of ENSAIT Textile Engineer School – University of Lille talked about “Fashion digitalization: creating a Metaverse ecosystem for supporting textile/fashion design by combining digital simulation and AI-based human-product interactions”; Prof. Minehiro Nishiyama of Kyoto University elaborated on “Low-carbon concrete-material, mechanical properties, structural design, construction, and demolition of buildings”; and Ms Kumiko Enya of the Kumiko Enya First-Class Architect Office described the “Design and construction of "Chashitsu" and "Ryouriya" in Kyoto - a portable room for tea ceremonies and an authentic Japanese restaurant”. Scholars of different backgrounds connected their expertise with textiles and fostered cross-disciplinary sharing, which inspired the participants to think more diversely, flexibly, and innovatively. These seminars that involve different fields of knowledge provide SFT students and colleagues with a platform to exchange knowledge with experts, increase their  knowledge base and stimulate their creativity.

Dr Dahua Shou awarded Green Tech Fund for sustainable building clothing project

Congratulations to Dr Shou Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Assistant Professor whose project, titled “Development of Multi-Functional “Building Clothing” using Textile Waste for Energy Saving and Waste Reduction”, has been awarded the Green Tech Fund (GTF). The global fashion and textile industry, valued at an estimated US$2.5 trillion, is responsible for 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted annually, which is equivalent to almost 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental crisis is further worsened by the fact that over 85% of discarded textiles are simply sent to landfills or incinerated. In Hong Kong alone, an average of 392 tonnes of textile waste is sent to the landfills daily, with just 0.4% of textiles being recovered for recycling. Dr Shou aims to create multi-functional, value-added "building clothing" (BC) from textile waste to contribute to reducing the global carbon footprint. Textile waste, which often consists of blended yarns, is difficult to recycle due to the challenges and high cost of sorting, depolymerisation, and dissolution. As such, textile waste which is most difficult to reuse but intrinsically durable and thermally-resistant, will be collected and used in Dr Shou’s project to develop a sustainable building envelope for thermal insulation and radiative cooling through a mass production method. Leveraging photon engineering, a nature-inspired design, and heat transfer optimisation, the proposed BC will excel in managing building temperatures. In addition to minimisation of thermal conductivity, the textile-reinforced hierarchical microstructure and colourants will selectively reflect solar heat, including visible light (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light, and emit thermal radiation in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. Furthermore, BC effectively repels water and dirt on surfaces, thus ensuring a consistent and robust performance. The reuse of textile waste as thermal insulation for sustainable buildings is an effective green technology that synergistically combines the two crucial components of achieving carbon neutrality in Hong Kong: recycling textile waste and saving on building energy consumption. In Hong Kong, buildings are responsible for 90% of energy consumption and over 60% of carbon emissions. The use of a thermoregulative BC can reduce energy consumption of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which account for 36% of the energy utilised in most households. This multi-functional BC, enhanced with multi-colour aesthetics, is both highly durable and lightweight, as well as flame-resistant, so that the material is compatible with a variety of settings or products, such as residential and industrial buildings, village and stilt houses, substations and container apartments, or curtains, canopies and tents, respectively. Green Tech Fund (GTF) The GTF was established in 2020 to provide funding support to research and development projects that can help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental protection. The assessment committee is chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection and comprises members from the academia, industry and green groups.

MA in Global Fashion Management programme hosts welcoming reception

On 29 Aug, the MA in Global Fashion Management (GFM) hosted an unforgettable welcoming reception, which marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter after the programme revamp. The event brought together an impressive gathering of over 100 attendees, including industry partners, alumni, fresh cohorts of students, and esteemed staff members. It was a night filled with camaraderie where a global community came together to celebrate the essence of fashion – creativity, diversity, and unwavering passion. The reception commenced with a warm welcome from Prof. Erin Cho, the Dean of SFT. Prof. Cho extended her heartfelt greetings to all guests, which set a positive and inclusive tone for the evening. Following her remarks, Dr Wing-sun Liu, the MA programme leader, took the stage to welcome the new MA students. He expressed his deep appreciation to the industry partners, alumni, and staff members for their invaluable support and gracing the event with their presence. About MA in Global Fashion Management The MA in Global Fashion Management programme strives to cultivate fashion professionals and entrepreneurs who possess exceptional leadership skills and a high level of professional competence to navigate the ever-evolving global fashion and creative industries. The GFM greatly emphasises global fashion strategic management and entrepreneurship, which offer students insights into the industry's best managerial practices and innovative business solutions.

Hyundai Department Store Duty Free strategic partnership with SFT

SFT is pleased to announce an innovative research partnership with Hyundai Department Store Duty Free (HDDFS), a duty-free brand under the Hyundai Department Store Group, boasting a rich 50-year history of experience in the field of distribution and a respected travel retailer based in Seoul, Korea. The research expertise of Dr Chloe Ki, Dr Magnum Lam, and Prof. Christina Wong in fashion business sparked the interest of the HDDFS, which has graciously offered to support and fund this esteemed team. The primary objective of this collaboration is to thoroughly explore the nuances of the duty-free shopping market for travel retail. Duty-free shopping is a unique retail landscape that involves the convergence of retailers, travellers (consumers), and governmental entities of different nations. The multifaceted, dynamic nature of the travel retail industry has led to this initiative which will involve a strategic analysis of country-specific policies, competitive environments, and consumer trends within different countries. This collaboration testifies to the reputation of both the team and SFT for industry-focused and practice-based research, and has the potential for a meaningful impact on the retail landscape.

Huang Gang is Best Menswear Designer at 2023 China Fashion Award

Huang Gang, a graduating student from the MA Fashion and Textiles programme with specialisation in Fashion Merchandising, has been named Best Menswear Designer at the 27th China Fashion Award of China Fashion Week in Beijing. A number of very talented individuals gathered at the award ceremony on 16 September 2023 to crown the cream of the crop. Huang Gang is recognised as one of China's top ten fashion designers, and serves as the Creative Director and Founder of Shenzhen Yuanzhenzhi Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. Additionally, he holds the position of Secretary General in the fancy yarn and coloured yarn division of the China Knitting Industry Association. Under Huang Gang's leadership, the sustainable street fashion brand LANG KUN has gained a high degree of prominence. In March, he unveiled his latest collection titled Continuation of Culture: Chinese Dyeing.  His designs beautifully integrated cultural elements, showcasing the intricate relationship between dyeing and weaving while capturing the essence of Chinese heritage. The brand strongly advocates for sustainable fashion design by prioritising plant dyeing, utilising certified Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) and Global Recycled Standards (GRS) yarn, incorporating bio-based materials, and using cutting-edge 3D printing knitting technology on a global scale.

SFT funded students experience Tokyo's fashion and art firsthand

Six SFT students recently travelled to Tokyo and had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Tokyo's vibrant fashion and art scene. This unique experience was a prize for the winners of the Sustainable Future Challenge Competition, a collaborative venture between SFT and UNIQLO. FR2: A Glimpse into Tokyo's Trendsetting Fashion The journey started in the heart of Tokyo's fashion district, Harajuku, where the students visited the two flagship stores of FR2, Tokyo's iconic streetwear brand. The Yellow store, known for its lively and dynamic atmosphere, contrasted beautifully with the feminine and whimsical ambiance of the Pink store. The educational highlight was an interactive session with the FR2 store manager who shared information on the brand's rich history, philosophy, and sources of inspiration. This gave the students a comprehensive understanding of what makes one of Tokyo's most iconic fashion brands tick. Contemporary Art at the Mori Art Museum Apart from fashion, Tokyo's art scene was another focal point of the trip. The students visited the "World Classroom: Contemporary Art Through School Subjects" exhibition at the Mori Art Museum. This experience allowed them to witness how Tokyo's contemporary artists connect history with different fields to explore the mysteries of existence. One student reflected, “Seeing the modern artists' approach to linking history and various disciplines was truly eye-opening." Experiencing Tokyo Beyond the Classroom Aside from the structured visits, the students were given the freedom to explore Tokyo's urban marvels. During the day, they wandered through Harajuku's unique fashion shops, and at night, they experienced the lively vibes of Shibuya and Omotesando. Dr Di Fan and Dr Magnum Lam, the professors who oversaw the competition and study trip, commented, "It's essential for our students not just to learn from textbooks but to experience the global fashion and art scenes firsthand. This trip was a testament to SFT's commitment to holistic education." At SFT, student experiences are paramount. Such initiatives underscore our commitment to ensuring that students not only receive a top-tier education but also exposure to real-world experiences that enrich their understanding and passion for the fashion industry. Our dedication remains firm: to provide unparalleled experiences and nurture the next generation of fashion industry leaders.