News

MOU Signed with Trinity Chain Holding Limited

SFT is pleased to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Trinity Chain Holding Limited, facilitated by Mr Joe Wong, Director. This partnership will foster research collaboration that focuses on entrepreneurship education and professionalism in the fashion sector. The MOU establishes a framework for engaging in meaningful discussions around several key objectives, including enhancing our research work on effective career support systems and entrepreneurship education within the fashion industry. The MOU will also promote professionalism through coordinated interviews, seminars, and workshops, thus enabling SFT to analyse best practices for training students to secure employment. To kick off this exciting collaboration, Mr Joe Wong invited renowned fashion designer Mihara Yasuhiro, Founder of Maison Mihara Yasuhiro, and Calvin Chan, Founder of Peace and After, to host a seminar for our students. This event will provide invaluable insights and enrich the learning experiences of our students. We look forward to the positive impact that this partnership will have on our students and the broader fashion community.

SFT and Code-Create co-organise AiDA X SFT Fashion AI Award 2024

In a groundbreaking initiative to inspire innovation in fashion design through artificial intelligence, the School partnered with Code-Create to host AiDA X SFT Fashion AI Award 2024. The competition offered SFT students invaluable hands-on experience with AiDA, and contributed to equipping them for their future in the ever-evolving fashion industry and positioning them as trailblazers in AI-enhanced design. The students showcased their creativity by skilfully integrating AiDA into their design processes, which resulted in stunning creations that transcend traditional clothing displays. These works not only reflect their fashion artistry but also symbolise the dynamic fusion of technology and style, thus heralding in a new era for the industry. The prestigious Grand Award was presented to an exchange student, Nina Waszak, who won $20,000 and an internship opportunity with acclaimed fashion designer, Mr Jae Hyuk Lim at BESFXXK. This internship promises to provide Nina with critical industry experience and the chance to contribute to a new collection set which will debut at both New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. The BA student Kock Man-yan and PhD student Yuzhi Lai were honoured with the Runners-Up Award, each receiving a cash prize of $5,000.

SFT staff members honoured with Long Service Award

A total of 15 staff members received the Long Service Award 2024 in recognition of their years of services at the University. The awardees have been serving in PolyU for 5 years or more, some even for 30 years: Dr Cheung Hing-fu, Project Associate Dr Man Cheung, Lecturer Dr Twinkie Cheung, Research Assistant Professor Prof. Fan Jintu, Chair Professor   Mr Ryan Houlton, Lecturer Ms Anne Hon, Senior Marketing Manager Prof. Huang Qiyao, Assistant Professor Dr Samuel Lee, Senior Scientific Officer Prof. Tao Xiaoming, Chair Professor  Dr Alan Tang, Postdoctoral Fellow Mr Sunny Wan, Technical Assistant Dr Carrie Wong, Lecturer Mr Eric Wong, Technical Officer Prof. Rachel Yee, Associate Professor Dr Lisha Zhang, Research Assistant Professor SFT would like to thank these staff members for their dedicated and loyal service to PolyU. The Long Service Award Scheme has been introduced since 1990 to foster a sense of belongings among PolyU staff.

Student Ng Tung-lam triumphs at Sustainable Fur Design Competition

Congratulations to our Year 3 BA student, Ng Tung-lam, Daniel, for winning the 2025 Sustainable Fur Design Competition. At the competition held at the Grand Hyatt on 19 February 2025, Daniel impressed both the audience and judges with his unique contribution to sustainable fashion. His innovative design, "SHEPHERD", creatively upcycles used fur fashion items, thus showcasing the endless possibilities of fur materials. Daniel's design concept draws inspiration from the idea of guiding individuals through life's distractions and challenges, much like a shepherd leading lost sheep back to safety. His vision uses fashion as a medium for self-rediscovery and finding new purpose. The centrepiece of his design is a balloon skirt, which symbolises a green Earth, thus representing the fragility and beauty of our planet. The deconstructed style of the upper garment resembles hands that are cradling the planet, which reinforces the message of nurturing and safeguarding our world. For the upper part of the outfit, Daniel transformed a long coat made of rabbit fur into a short coat, which infuses practicality into fashion. This transformation not only adds a modern touch but also highlights the potential of repurposing materials for sustainable fashion. The lower part of the design features spherical fake grass and oxidised fabric, which further accentuate the theme of renewal and growth. The 2025 Sustainable Fur Design Competition, organised by the Hong Kong Fur Federation, emphasises sustainability by upcycling, recycling, reusing, and transforming vintage and waste fur into biodegradable, relevant, and contemporary designs. Daniel's work exemplifies these principles by delivering a powerful message of environmental protection and guiding people through their struggles.

SFT Outstanding Research Achievement Award 2024 (Research Postgraduate Students)

To encourage and recognise outstanding research in the disciplines of fashion design, fashion business, and fashion technology, and promote the excellence of research postgraduate education, SFT is pleased to offer the Outstanding Research Achievement Award (Research Postgraduate Students) again this year.  We are proud to announce this year’s awardees: Chung King-yan (fashion technology), under the supervision of Prof. Xu Bingang Hu Xin (fashion technology), whose supervisor is Prof. Fei Bin Seidu Raphael Kanyire (fashion design), supervised by Prof. Kinor Jiang Shu Wenjun (fashion business), under the supervision of Profs. Fan Di and Chris Lo Zhao Yuanyuan (fashion technology), supervised by Prof. John Xin To be considered for the award, research achievements should contribute but are not limited to the following: advances in knowledge or understanding in the field of fashion design, fashion business, or/and fashion technology, innovative research methodologies, design methods, or technologies that have led to significant results, the development of new theories or concepts, or the development of new technologies, products, designs, or standards with good impact on the field.   Chung King-yan (fashion technology) "My work on internet of things (IoT) focuses on integrating textiles, materials, and technology to create innovative e-textiles with embedded sensors and self-powered devices. These textiles enable real-time health monitoring and energy harvesting, thus enhancing human-machine interfaces. I have developed flexible, printable wearable e-textiles that can be personalised and are sustainable, thus improving both wear comfort and functionality. My research work, published in reputable journals, highlights significant findings in smart materials and explores practical applications in healthcare, energy, and artificial intelligence, thus advancing knowledge in these areas, and ultimately promoting the development of next-generation green-based wearable electronics."       Hu Xin (fashion technology) "My area of research is advanced materials and technologies for innovative thermal management solutions. I have pioneered the concept of radiative cooling regulation, thus enabling transformative applications in personal thermal management and energy-efficient building systems. I have also designed year-round fabrics with self-adaptive cooling power, which address overcooling issues in traditional radiative coolers. By seamlessly integrating radiative cooling regulation into the building thermal management systems, my work bridges the gap among conventional thermal regulation technologies at different scales. This research significantly advances environmental sustainability by offering efficient and adaptable solutions for managing thermal conditions in different applications."     Seidu Raphael Kanyire (fashion design) "My area of research is on the development of smart interactive retro-reflective clothing to enhance pedestrian safety at night. This novel approach addresses the challenges of improving the visibility and conspicuity of pedestrians, and increase awareness of their presence, especially disabled individuals like the deaf and blind, by using sound, vibration, and lighting effects. I have fabricated braided electronic yarns for red/green lighting effects, interwoven into self-developed retro-reflective textiles, and developed a control unit integrated with sensors into clothing. The results have been published in several high-impact journals and presented at international conferences. By combining design and technology, my work has practical applications for enhancing road safety at night."     Shu Wenjun (fashion business) "My research focuses on operations and supply chain management in natural and sociopolitical contexts. I published a paper in a leading journal on how firms handle extreme weather risks in global supply chains. My analysis reveals that companies perceive higher trade risks and reduce sourcing when facing extreme weather threats, with supply chain flexibility as a key mitigation strategy. These findings provide actionable insights for climate-sensitive industries like fashion and textiles to manage risks and build resilience. I have also presented my research work at various conferences."      Zhao Yuanyuan (fashion technology) "My work focuses on developing functional fibres by leveraging fluid mechanics and airborne moisture. By interacting micro/nano-fibre materials with ambient humidity, I have enhanced textile functionality, particularly in antibacterial superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic textiles. I have also designed humidity-responsive polycation fibres that convert ambient moisture into fluidic flow, which improves ion transport for iontronic applications. My research work, which has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications and Advanced Functional Materials, is an interdisciplinary approach that intersects materials science, nanotechnology, and textiles, with practical implications for smart, sustainable, and high-performance textile technologies."   Each awardee will receive a cash prize of $6,000 and a certificate. Congratulations to all the awardees.

Professor Tao Xiaoming elected as 2025 HKAE Fellows

The Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) announced the list of 2025 HKAE Fellows, with 11 outstanding professionals selected. Professor Tao Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, was selected for her outstanding contributions and professional knowledge in the field of engineering. These fellows were elected at its 31st annual general meeting on 9 December 2024 and were formally inducted at a ceremony held on 20 January 2025 at Hotel ICON. Ir Dr Alex Siu-kun Chan, President of the HKAE, expressed hopes that the new fellows will combine knowledge and experience to strengthen HKAE’s mission to promote excellence and innovation in engineering. Established in 1994, HKAE is a prestigious organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the field of engineering in Hong Kong. It aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in engineering, contributing to the advancement of society and the development of Hong Kong and our Nation. It comprises a distinguished group of Fellows from various disciplines, recognized as leaders in their profession, with remarkable achievements in engineering sciences and applications.

Dr Nico Liu receives President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2024/25

SFT is delighted to announce that Dr Nico Liu has been honored with the prestigious President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement (Outstanding Young Teacher) 2024/25. Dr Liu stood out among a pool of exceptional candidates through a rigorous and multi-tiered assessment process. Alongside her, two other individual staff members and a team have also been recognized for their exceptional contributions and achievements this year. The President's Award symbolises the highest form of institutional recognition, honoring the unwavering dedication and outstanding accomplishments of PolyU staff. Please join us in extending our warmest congratulations to Dr Liu. We commend Dr Liu for her pioneering teaching methods and her commitment to inspiring and nurturing young minds. Her dedication to excellence in education truly embodies the essence of this distinguished award.

Prof. Joanne Yip secures RGC Collaborative Research Fund for impactful interdisciplinary innovation

We are delighted to announce that Professor Joanne Yip, Associate Dean of SFT, has been awarded over HK$5 million from the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) 2024/25 administered by the esteemed Research Grant Council (RGC). This funding is for her project titled "Optimising Spinal Curvature Corrective Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Investigation into Spinal Flexibility, Biomechanical Behavior and Predictive Modeling", in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. Prof. Yip's funded project intends to enhance treatment for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) by focusing on their spinal flexibility during the clinical decision-making process. The project includes a randomised controlled trial to test a new soft brace against observation for those with a Cobb angle smaller than 25°. Additionally, a deep learning predictive model will be developed to assist clinicians in creating effective treatment strategies and understanding the progression of AIS. The project also involves developing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible robotic device for real-time spinal curvature adjustment and a finite element model to study AIS biomechanics. The trial will compare the effectiveness of the soft brace with observation and rigid bracing groups, and examine in-brace correction, brace failure rates, and quality of life to guide future treatment strategies and brace designs. Established by the RGC, the CRF supports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects to encourage research groups to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary/cross-institutional projects.  Congratulations to Prof. Yip again on receiving funding through the CRF!

PolyU and AUW sign MOU for educational collaboration

We are delighted to announce a new partnership with the Asian University for Women (AUW). This collaboration aims to enhance collaboration in education, research, and cultural exchange. On 7 January, Professor Erin Cho, Dean of SFT, and Dr Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor at AUW, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU represents a significant step in establishing a framework for ongoing discussions and initiatives focused on promoting academic collaboration. The partnership seeks to enrich educational experiences and foster innovation, benefiting both students and academic staff.

Professor Xu Bingang’s team publishes in Nature Communications

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (AIoT), electromagnetic waves have become essential carriers for both energy and information exchange. AIoT devices require a stable supply of energy and robust ability to adapt to different environments to ensure continuous operation and reliable connectivity in complex settings. Therefore, developing a smart, sustainable, and seamlessly integrated wireless energy interaction system that facilitates contactless reception, conversion, and transmission of energy and signals is critical. Recently, Professor Xu Bingang and his team made a fundamental breakthrough in this field by carrying out an innovative study on the wireless, chipless coupled interaction between electromagnetic and air moisture by controlling the ionic diode effect. Using a coupled wireless energy interactive system, a bilayer polymer ionic diode can synergistically harvest electromagnetic and moist energies. Impressively, the electromagnetic-electricity conversion efficiency reaches 25.74% under 100 Hz wave frequency. This groundbreaking work paves the way for future intelligent systems, including self-powered monitoring, wireless charging, and information encryption, with broad application potential. This work makes a vital step towards enabling smart interactivities for wirelessly driven wearable flexible electronics. The findings are published in Nature Communications (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55030-2). The first author is Dr Gao Zhenguo, a postdoctoral fellow at SFT under the supervision of Professor Xu.