Sustainable Fashion Meets Social Inclusion: PolyU and DAU Students Empowering the Disabled
In collaboration with the Da Nang Architecture University (DAU) and the Centre of Research and Community Inclusive Support (CORMIS), SFT successfully executed a meaningful offshore service-learning journey in Da Nang, Vietnam from 28 June to 7 July 2026. Under the leadership of Prof. Jin Lam, coordinator of the GUR Service-Learning subject “Community Engagement through Expressive Textile Arts and Fashion” (ITC2S02), 30 PolyU students joined forces with 15 DAU students to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) from CORMIS through the co-creation of expressive textile arts and upcycled fashion prototypes.
This year's programme pioneered a powerful model that combines environmental sustainability with social inclusion. In a unique cross-sector collaboration, the Melia Hotel Da Nang donated end-of-life white linens, including used bed covers and pillowcases, to CORMIS. Under Prof. Lam’s guidance, the students and PWDs utilised these discarded materials as their primary canvas. By upcycling the linens into value-added fashion products, the programme taught students the practical applications of a circular economy while providing the PWDs with valuable, sustainable crafting skills. The collaborative workshops showed that expressive textile arts can serve as a healing, inclusive medium, thereby overcoming language barriers and physical limitations to foster deep mutual respect.
The 45 university students and PWDs from CORMIS were grouped into integrated co-design teams. Working side-by-side, they explored personal narratives to conceptualise their designs. The PolyU and DAU students shared their knowledge of contemporary fashion silhouettes and tech-pack development, while the PWDs infused the pieces with their unique creativity and resilience. Throughout the workshops, the discarded hotel linens were meticulously cut, dyed, stitched, and transformed into a cohesive collection of expressive textile art prototypes and upcycled garments. This hands-on process not only resulted in beautiful, bespoke fashion pieces but also cultivated a supportive environment where the PWDs could express themselves freely and recognise the tangible value of their craftsmanship.
The transformative ten-day programme reached its climax on 4 July 2026 with the highly anticipated “DAU x PolyU SFT Service-Learning Fashion Show 2026”. In a moving display of unity and empowerment, the PWDs, alongside the PolyU and DAU students, took to the runway to proudly model their co-created, upcycled masterpieces. The fashion show served as a social advocacy platform. By presenting their creations to the public, the PWDs re-established their inner confidence, challenged societal stigmas, and celebrated their creative potential in an inclusive and caring community setting.
The impact of this service-learning journey extends far beyond the runway. In an inspiring commitment to supporting the community for the long-term, the upcycled value-added products and prototypes co-created during the programme will be sold in a consignment store located within the Melia Hotel. This ongoing retail initiative not only gives a second life to the hotel’s textiles but also generates a sustainable stream of income and visibility for the PWDs at CORMIS. Through this holistic journey of design, upcycling, and social entrepreneurship, the PolyU and DAU students left Da Nang with a deeply enriched understanding of global citizenship, environmental responsibility, and the transformative power of inclusive fashion.
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