News

Online teaching at ITC

Face-to-face teaching and hands-on laboratory and studio sessions have been suspended since the end of the Chinese New Year holiday on 3 February 2020 in response to the challenge of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. ITC senior management has closely monitored the situation, devised prevention and control measures, as well as coordinated and facilitated online teaching resources with various parties in their efforts to help students continue with their learning. Nearly 60 online classes were smoothly conducted via MS Teams in the past five weeks. Subject lecturers, and local and overseas students interacted with each other in an online environment. The lecturers share some of their thoughts. Fashion Visual Merchandising - Dr Eunsoo Baek, Assistant Professor Running a class without the physical presence of more than 80 students was challenging at first, but I find that there are always positive sides of a new attempt. Advanced technologies allow us to communicate in digital settings almost without constraints and sometimes better with the digital natives like our students. For the tutorial sessions that include lots of hands-on activities, I’ve transformed them into online activities. The most useful toolkit is an online survey platform that can contain diverse formats of contents such as images and videos and different types of questions ranging from multiple choice to open-ended essays. Promoting group discussion was the most tricky part but soon solved by selecting a facilitator for each group. To encourage and manage the participation of students in their group activities, they had to submit the name list of the “attended” group members in the worksheet. Fashion Design and Knitwear Design - Dr Joe Au and Dr C.P. Ho, Associate Professor To carry out the online teaching of design subjects, we modified the teaching format and delivered the theory-based materials first. We also encouraged students to participate and maintained interaction by asking related questions through online ‘chat’. A Q & A session was scheduled near the end of the lecture and students were able to easily review the teaching materials. In general, the design students were quite positive about the online teaching arrangement for the essential theory-based materials found in fashion and textile design practices. Colouration and Finishing for Knitwear - Dr Nuruzzaman Noor, Research Assistant Professor As we transitioned into the use of digital technologies to reproduce the lecture experience, the excellent infrastructure and technical support at PolyU has helped my students and I stay connected and engaged, so as to maintain student learning outcomes. Successful distance-learning has required self-discipline, organisation of easy access to course materials and most importantly, the support and active involvement of students. My experiences show online instruction as a streamlined lecture delivery method that allows interaction with students in a fluid, interactive manner. This includes the use of online tests, crossword puzzles, modular lecture sections, live chats with students, etc. Whilst the online lecture delivery method is unlikely to make physical, in-class lectures obsolete any time soon, the value of incorporating digital technologies and remote learning principles has been an extremely valuable, if unexpected, experience that will likely play a larger role in all aspects of my teaching in the future. Advanced Apparel Technology - Dr Roger Ng, Senior Teaching Fellow I redesigned and reworded the course contents into a story that involved product development activity to simulate the request of quotations between buyer / fashion designer. Besides, style information is discussed interactively among groups of students via Google document. All of the groups can share their ideas with each other as well as other groups. “I became a DJ of a radio programme, and the students became my fans. We shared stories about product development processes, and played games to guess the consequences of making silly or careless mistakes. It was fun,” Dr Ng said. Bra Construction; Introduction to Intimate Apparel and Activewear Design; Intimate Apparel Design Project - Ms Nico Liu, Instructor Videos of bra sewing steps with clear subtitle and labeling are produced. Students are encouraged to watch the videos in advance and raise questions during the online class. To enhance the learning experience, a mobile app is being developed to create augmented reality (AR) table-top learning environment. It integrates the real environment with virtual learning scenarios in a student-friendly and engaging manner.

Filtration mechanisms of fibrous filters better modelled

From face masks to indoor air filters, understanding filtration mechanisms is essential for optimizing filtration efficiency with minimal pressure drop. Nevertheless, current filtration models are largely based on the assumption that the fibrous medium is homogeneous with a single fiber located at the center of individual cells. Such models have failed to take into account the non-uniformity of fibrous media in terms of the fiber diameter and orientation, and pore size distribution in real filters. In a recent paper published in the Separation and Purification Technology journal (Volume 236, 1 April 2020, 116037) that is co-authored by Prof. Jintu Fan, Head of ITC; Prof. Xiaoming Qian, ITC alumnus and Professor at Tianjin Polytechnic University; and their research students, the distribution of the fiber diameter, fiber orientation and pore size distribution in actual fibrous filters have been successfully incorporated into a filtration model based on fractal and statistical theories, which contributes to the future development of filtration materials. The paper can be accessed by visiting: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383586619326656

Solution for improved fitting in ready-to-wear apparel

The sizing of ready-to-wear apparel is typically based on the body shape of human models that are hired by apparel companies. However, the differences in body shape of a consumer versus the model result to a certain degree, a loss of fit. To ensure optimum fit of a targeted population, sizing systems should minimize aggregate loss of fit. In a recently published paper in the Textile Research Journal co-authored by Prof. Jintu Fan, Head of ITC, Prof. Susan Ashdown, Emerita Professor of Cornell University and their PhD student, Jie Pei, a novel fit-loss function was proposed to identify differences between three dimensional scanned models of the human body so as to optimize the fit of ready-to-wear apparel with a limited number of sizes. The concept was then tested on intimate apparel. The paper can be accessed by visiting: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0040517519901318 The preparation of scans. Self-defined bust and underbust planes Moiré patterns as a reference to determine the upper boundary of breasts The coordinates of the missing points were replaced by NaN's The scan after processing (Points on the bust plane at z = 0 were highlighted in red)

Li & Fung supports ITC students in international retail competition

Li & Fung will support four ITC students to participate in the Future Retail Challenge student competition in Rome, Italy in October 2020. The competition has become a popular component of the World Retail Congress, which promotes future talent in the retail industry worldwide. Li & Fung has been an ardent supporter of ITC for this competition during the past 12 years. During the preparation for the competition, Li & Fung senior management members judged the auditions to select the ITC finalists. They not only provided mentorship to develop creative ideas but also resources to actualize the idea into a deliverable outcome. Students had the opportunity to visit the firm to conduct a presentation to the board members and receive feedback. In addition, Li & Fung will provide all of the financial support for students to participate in the Future Retail Challenge student competition, including registration fees, travelling expenses, and accommodations. Often they offer industry connections in the nearby cities of the event so that students and faculty can embark on an industry tour. ITC teams have won champion five times and 1st runner-up twice in the past 12 years. ITC would like to take this opportunity to extend its sincere appreciation to Li & Fung for its ongoing support. The invaluable opportunity and mentorship have become one of the highlights of our undergraduate programs, and subsequently attracted high calibre fashion business students. ITC is sending its best wishes to the new ITC team and hope that they will be recognized for their talent and hard work in the largest conference event for retail industries.

Long term ITC scholarship sponsors: The Woolmark Company and Flinders Merino

The Woolmark Company and Flinders Merino have recently confirmed that they will continue to sponsor the Flinders Merino Award towards a study tour scholarship for the PolyU Fashion Show 2020. Young design talents in Hong Kong can learn more about the natural benefits of Australian Merino wool and are encouraged to use the wool. The two companies have been generously offering this scholarship to ITC since 2009. The sponsored prize will be a trip to Australia to receive training about Merino wool. The prize-winning designer will meet with woolgrowers to learn firsthand about the Merino wool properties, origins of Australia and the Australian wool farm, as well as the wool industry visit a AWEX or AWTA wool auction, and exchange ideas with local fashion designers. The award recipient will embark on a 10-day visit to the wool-growing properties of Flinders Merino and fashion-related institutes/organizations. A wool production experience at an Australia Merino farm is part of the visit so that the student designer can learn more about Australian Merino wool and develop a greater appreciation for the farm to fashion journey to draw inspiration from the natural and beautiful environment where Australian Merino sheep are reared. The designer also gets to try his/her hand at shearing and feeding sheep, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is not available in Hong Kong. The award recipient will learn first-hand about the origins of Australia and the Australian wool farm, as well as the wool industry. ITC would like to thank The Woolmark Company and Flinders Merino for their continuous nurturing of our next generation of fashion design talents. For details of the study tour, please click here.

The Fashion Gallery website – glimpse of finest fashion arts & creativity

ITC is excited to announce the launch of the brand-new website of The Fashion Gallery with learning features at www.fashiongallery.hk. The most updated information and latest fashion and textile exhibitions can be accessed with a click of a mouse. The latest on the gallery is highlighted on the homepage. More than 80 exhibitions, including the annual exhibitions organised by ITC (ITC Graduation Exhibition, PolyU MA Fashion & Textile Design Exhibition, and PolyU Intimate Fashion Exhibition) and international exhibitions that have been held by the gallery in the past decade can be accessed and viewed under the Exhibitions tab. Viewers can browse through photos, videos and details. Upcoming and past seminars and published books are also available under the Seminars and Publications tabs respectively. What’s more, artists, designers and professionals in the fashion industry can submit an application to exhibit their work by clicking on Exhibition Application under the Join & Support tab and review the exhibition schedule and download the application documents. The application will then be assessed by the Review Board. The website serves as an informational and educational platform for PolyU staff members, students, and professionals in the fashion and textiles industry. The website will increase the visibility of fashion and textiles exhibitions so that the public at large can enjoy the designs while locally and internationally promoting ITC. Article and photos are provided by Peng Qingxin and Yuki Cheng.

Prof. Jintu Fan judges fashion, science & tech competition

Our ITC academics are often in demand for their expertise and professional opinions. This is again reinforced when Prof JT Fan, Head and Chair Professor of ITC, co-chaired the jury committee of the 3rd Upstyle Award: International Competition for Fashion, Science and Technology (Upstyle Award) with iconic Chinese industrial designer, Prof. Liu Guanzhong of Tsinghua University. This is an international competition organized by the Organizing Committee of the Upstyle Award and Upstyle Fashion & Cultural Innovation (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and held at Bellagio Shanghai on 9 January 2020. The aim of the Upstyle Award is to gather global knowledge, promote fashion design, and create and share technological achievements. The competition targets those who are passionate about innovative research, as an exclusive platform is offered that supports excellent design and creativity, and promotes market transformation and the development of scientific and technological innovations in the fashion industry. The competition started in 2017 and is held annually.

Prof. Zijian Zheng delivers keynotes at ICONN2020

Prof. Zijian Zheng, Professor of ITC, delivered two keynotes at the 8th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN2020), the largest biennial Australian conference series in the field of nanoscience which attracts over 1000 attendees. The event was held from 9 to 13 February 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. Prof. Zheng shared details of his research work on wearable electronics with “Fiber-enable Wearable Energy Storage Devices” in the Nano Energy & Environment symposium and “Polymer-Assisted Metal Deposition (PAMD): An Interface Approach for Soft Metal Electrodes” in the Nano Electronics symposium. Since its inaugural conference in Brisbane in 2006, ICONN has been successfully held in cities across Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Wollongong.

Dr Joanne Yip secures Champion at 4th Hong Kong Innovation Day

We’re very proud of Dr Joanne Yip, Associate Professor of ITC as her ITC research project, A Flexible Brace with Artificial Hinge, recently secured Champion at an event organised by the School of Nursing of PolyU, PolyU and Good Seed - the 4th Hong Kong Innovation Day (HKIA). A Flexible Brace with Artificial Hinge is good news for adolescent scoliosis sufferers. The project  merges clinical practice, material science and textile technology to create an innovative flexible brace specially designed for scoliosis. The artificial hinge used in this functional garment applies strategic corrective forces to the spine. This not only gives adequate support to the spine but also controls the progression of spinal deformity more effectively. The brace is comfortable to wear so patient compliance would increase and in the end, reduces the potential need for surgery. The aim of the HKIA is to stimulate innovative ideas and concepts that bring immediate benefits to patients, clinicians as well as the healthcare industry. Outstanding teams selected by the jury at the HKIA will take part in The Global Healthcare Innovation Academy which will be held in Toronto, Canada on June 22 and 23, 2020 to compete for the Innovation for Health Award of Excellence.  To see the article on Dr Yip, visit https://www.ghiaevent.com/biomedical-innovations.         

Prof. Kinor Jiang recipient of Leonardo da Vinci International Award

ITC academics are often recognized for the high calibre of their work and their creative talent. Recently, Prof. Kinor Jiang, Professor of ITC, was awarded the “Leonardo da Vinci” International Award for Design (2nd prize in the Fashion & Jewellery Design Category) at the 12th Florence Biennale which took place from 18 to 27 October 2019. The winning design is called “Watch” which is a dialogue between tangible and intangible elements, highlighted with black and white in abstract lattices of dots and shapes . The focus is on the abstract texture rather than concreteness when one approaches the design for a closer view. In doing so, the viewer will gain an awareness of lapses in time and changes in space. The “Leonardo da Vinci” International Award for Design is conferred to the best exhibiting designers for their works on show in each category including: Architecture & Town Design, Industrial & Product Design, Interior Design, Fashion & Jewellery Design, Communication & Graphic Design, Technology & Game Design.  Florence Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition in Florence, Italy, and regarded as an outstanding showcase of international contemporary art production.  Since its establishment, the Florence Biennale has been a free, independent, and innovative ‘platform’ for contemporary art. Thousands of artists from over a hundred countries have exhibited their works at Florence Biennale, which have defined the main art forms and disciplines.