News

"Let‘s Go Green" Woven Bag Design Competition crowns Chu Pak-yin Champion

BA student Chu Pak-yin, who is majoring in technology, was crowned Champion in a canvas bag design competition, “Let’s Go Green”, which was organised by the Environmental Protection Department. Pak-yin believes sustainable development ties together the concerns of the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social, political, and economic challenges faced by humanity. The bag is printed with images of renewable energy and many products related to recycling, such as solar lamp posts, wind power generators, recycling bins, and recycling stations, thus showing the concept of sustainable living and a green lifestyle. Through beautiful designs, the ‘Let‘s Go Green’ woven bag design competition aims to encourage the public to use reusable eco-friendly shopping bags and reduce the use of disposable plastic bags. The hope is that youths will integrate creative design into their daily life and act as ambassadors of environmental protection to all levels of society.

Dr Jeanne Tan receives HK$1.49 million from Quality Education Fund

Dr Jeanne Tan, Associate Professor of ITC, can now support design-led science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education research for secondary schools across Hong Kong with HK$1.49 M from the Quality Education Fund (QEF). This project is also supported by design collaborators from the Royal College of Art (London); industry sponsor, The Mills Fabrica; and design community partners from the Hong Kong Design Centre. Fabrica is offering HK$398,000 in in-kind sponsorship. The funding enables Dr Tan and her team to conduct pedagogical research through a series of workshops and activities that utilise creative practices as a learning and teaching means. The project intends to engage forty-two (42) secondary school teachers and over five hundred (500) students in the subjects of design-led STEM (D-STEM) education, AI and intelligent textiles. Through this cross-sector project, Dr Tan aims to develop D-STEM curricula based on AI integrated textiles and creative practices to enhance pedagogy. Dr Tan explains: “I would like to thank the Quality Education Fund, the Royal College of Art, The Mills Fabrica and the Hong Kong Design Centre for supporting my project. Their support will enable research into methods that enhance learning and teaching experiences in STEM secondary curricula through design. Through this project, we aim to enhance pedagogy and help teachers in Hong Kong to teach and assess D-STEM, and enhance the knowledge and skills of students so that they can solve real world problems creatively via interdisciplinary practices.”   About the Quality Education Fund The Quality Education Fund (QEF) finances projects to promote quality education in Hong Kong. The establishment of the QEF is one of the major recommendations of the Education Commission Report No.7 (ECR7). The QEF provides an effective channel to fund worthwhile projects in the school education sector. The QEF mainly caters to worthwhile non-profit educational initiatives.

FAST Research Insight 2021

Curious about the ins and outs of the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles (FAST) at PolyU? In recent months, FAST has launched a series of videos under FAST Research Insight 2021, which showcase the achievements of faculty members, and focus on their different research projects and contributions to society. ITC is pleased that three of our own faculty members are featured in this series of videos. They share their research highlights and contributions. Their research works span a broad range of topics, which range from fibre textiles, green supply chain management to fashion design in the community. Prof. Zheng Zijian and his research team are featured in one of the videos. They have developed a new type of highly permeable and super elastic liquid-metal fibre mat which can be used for wearable electronic devices and can withstand long-term wear. This novel stretchable conductor is expected to find remarkable applications in health monitoring devices, soft robotics and on-skin electronics. The research work has been recently published in Nature Materials, a leading academic journal. Green supply chain management plays a crucial role in sustainable development. Prof. Christina Wong’s research work is also featured in one of the videos. Her work considers processes in supply chains and coordination amongst supply chain partners to reduce costs and adverse environmental impacts. The third video shows that while the aging population has reduced the labour force, retired people can in fact also contribute to the community in various social activities, and make their life more meaningful. Dr Jin Lam has implemented a scheme called “Empafashion Design”: Community Network Weaver in PolyU, targeting the young-old. The project aims to cultivate self-initiative skills, and encourage them to help the elderly when they are in need. The scheme uses fashion design as a medium to bridge students and the elderly, as an essential element in promoting inter-generational integration.

Dr Dahua Shou receives multiple awards for Air-Conditioned Facemask project

ITC scholars are known for the novelty and significance of their research work, and receive multiple awards for their ingenuity. Dr Dahua Shou, Assistant Professor, and Prof. Jintu Fan, Head and Chair Professor of ITC, received both the Gold Award and Special Award at the 35th World Genius Convention and Education Expo 2021 in Tokyo for their research project ‘Air-Conditioned Facemask (AC Mask)’. The same project also received the Gold Medal and Grand Award (Excellence in Innovation Award) at the 13th European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation (EUROINVENT) 2021. AC Mask, a temperature-controllable facemask, protects the wearer from unpleasant heat and high humidity while wearing the facepiece. The automatic and efficient cooling effects are based on the Peltier effect, which reduces the temperature of the facepiece by 12°C and humidity by 50% at a low voltage of 3 volts. The ergonomically designed 3D printed mask frame and the wind-guided tunnel facilitate efficient ventilation and smoothness of breathing. The AC-Mask is cost-effective and compatible with existing disposable facemasks that are worn during COVID-19. It is like a personal wearable air conditioner.

Dr Lilly Li receives Gold Award for Far Infrared Functional Fibre innovation

ITC is pleased to announce that Dr Lilly Li, Associate Professor, is the recipient of the Gold Award at the 4th China (Shanghai) International Exhibition of Invention and Innovation 2021 for her research project titled ‘Innovation of Highly Efficient Far Infrared Functional Textiles’. Fabric Swatches made of the FIR Fibers. The highly efficient far infrared (FIR) functional fibre is innovative in that that approach involves the structural modification of fibre cross-sections to increase the absorptivity and emissivity of FIR radiation. The structural modification of the fibre cross-sections can be done in all types of synthetic materials. The method is eco-friendly and chemical-free, without the addition of any chemicals, additives, or coatings. As such, the function is more durable. Since the production approach is the physical alteration of the fibre morphology, the need for additional materials (such as chemicals or additives) is eliminated. Theoretically, the surface area of a triangular cross section is relatively smaller than that of commonly used circular ones. Thus, the production cost will be lower compared to conventional methods. Textile products made with such fibres can be subjected to numerous washes and are light in weight with a balance between moisture-thermal management and wear comfort.  The highly efficient FIR functional fibre can be explored for new applications in the functional and healthcare textile markets. Product Design and Development.

Dr Chloe Ki publishes top cited article in Psychology & Marketing

ITC is pleased to announce that Wiley has recognized a paper written by Dr Chloe Ki and published in Psychology and Marketing  as a top cited article during 2019 and 2020. Dr Ki received a certificate of achievement from Wiley for “The mechanism by which social media influencers persuade consumers: The role of consumers’ desire to mimic”. This paper was also recognized as one of the top downloaded papers between 2018 and 2019. In this study, Dr Ki investigated the influencer marketing phenomenon, which has become an integral part of the digital marketing strategies of fashion retailers. She investigated the mechanism through which social media influencers exert influence over consumers. One of the noteworthy implications of her work is documenting that social media influencers not only serve as opinion leaders, but also as taste leaders who win over social media audiences by showcasing their personal taste. Both the taste and opinion leadership influence the desire of consumers to follow the influencers, which in turn, has a  decisive role in purchase decisions. We know that the findings in Dr Ki’s work will help fashion retailers and marketers to maximize the significant benefits that influencer marketing can offer.

Ms Mary Yu recipient of PolyU Outstanding Alumni Award 2021

Congratulations to Ms Mary Yu Wah, in receiving the PolyU Outstanding Alumni Award 2021! Jointly organised by PolyU and the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations, the biennial Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award aims at honouring outstanding graduates of PolyU and its forerunner institutions – the Government Trade School, the Hong Kong Technical College and the Hong Kong Polytechnic – for their remarkable professional achievements and contributions to the community and their alma mater. Ms Yu is a graduate of Higher Diploma in Fashion and Clothing at ITC in 2003 and BA (Hons) Scheme in Fashion and Textiles (Fashion and Textile Design) in 2005. She is a world-famous fashion designer and currently the Founder of Mary Yu Design. She is highly regarded for her creative design of qipao, blending eastern and western elements, which shines on the world stage. At a young age, she has already engaged in commercial fashion design for international brands. Her prolific repertoire also consists of uniforms of local companies, organisations and Hong Kong sports teams, including the chic performance apparel seen in the Hong Kong equestrian events of 2008 Olympics. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms Yu has garnered countless awards, such as Forty under Forty by the Perspective, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Selection of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Elite Ladies Selection, and Hong Kong Culture and Creativity Industries Award. A true leader in her trade, she has been twice the winner of China’s Most Successful Design Awards. Some of her works are kept by the China National Silk Museum as its permanent collection.

Staff promotion announcement

ITC is pleased to announce that Dr Desmond Chau and Dr Carrie Wong have both been promoted to Teaching Fellow effective 1 April 2021. Dr Desmond Chau teaches subjects related to CAD/CAM for fashion & textiles, CAD in textiles design, 3D fashion modelling and 3D pattern design. Dr Carrie Wong obtained her PhD from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her teaching specialties include fashion retailing, and entrepreneurship and customer relationship management. Congratulations to Dr Chau and Dr Wong. We wish them continued success at ITC.

Prof. Kinor Jiang secures HK$4M from ITF

Prof. Kinor Jiang, Professor of ITC, recently secured over HK$4 million in funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) via The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles (HKRITA) for a project sponsored by the China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology Company Limited.  The project is titled “Development of Flexible Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (FSERS) System for Food Safety Detection”.  At present, conventional food safety detection methods mainly include: gas, liquid, thin-layer and immunoaffinity chromatographies, Raman, fluorescence and infrared spectroscopies, etc. These detection technologies are usually low in efficiency with special requirements, such as expensive equipment and a necessary degree of expertise. Therefore, these technologies are only suitable for professional testing departments. In this project, metal nanoparticles are coated onto the surface of textile materials by using magnetron sputtering, and modified by chemical grafting, to prepare type-specific/ universal flexible surface-enhanced Raman substrates (FSERS). The response of FSERS to different pesticides, and food and restricted additives will be systematically investigated. At the same time, a set of portable Raman instrument will be designed for food safety inspection in combination with the FSERS  to form an FSERS detection system, which is an efficient and convenient detection tool for the food safety industry.

ITC alumna receives Parsons School of Design scholarship: Hanhui Guo

Hanhui Guo (BA, 2020), who majored in fashion and textile design at ITC, was recently awarded a scholarship from the Parsons School of Design in New York to pursue her postgraduate study. Her outstanding portfolio and interview impressed Parsons and gave her the green light into the Master of Fine Arts in Textiles program. Hanhui shared her insights into gaining admission: "The portfolio is a crucial part of the application. It is the deciding factor in whether you are offered an interview or not”. For over a year, Hanhui worked on her portfolio which shows that her hard work was not in vain. In fact, her outstanding academic performance has resulted in a number of scholarships during her time at PolyU, including the Dr Y.K. Ching Memorial Scholarship in the academic year of 2016-17, and four ITC Scholarships for Non-local (Chinese mainland) Students from 2016 to 2019. She shares her story with ITC: “Being a fashion designer has always been my biggest dream since I was a little girl. I learned about fashion step by step, which allowed me to find out more about this wonderful profession, and led me to understand what I truly want." “Fashion is a lovely language to express the designers’ feelings and stories.”  Hanhui Guo. After graduation from secondary school, she chose to enroll at ITC to pursue her passion. She explains, “ITC has an integrated curriculum which appealed to me. As a design student, I learn more than just designing. I was taught about fashion technology, fashion marketing and retailing, and much more. Knowledge of all of these is important to design students.” She explained her reason for choosing ITC. “ITC is a platform where students could take full advantage of the opportunities to improve themselves and reach their goals.” During her time at ITC, Hanhui had many memorable experiences. “One of my most unforgettable experiences was a shop visit arranged by the subject lecturer, Dr Jeanne Tan. She took us to a luxury fabric shop. The shop sells top of the line fabric which inspired me a lot.” She reminisces about the nice teachers and wonderful facilities at ITC, and rare yet numerous amazing opportunities such as factory visits and internships. “But,” Hanhui adds, “opportunities are for those who are well prepared. Self-learning is a very crucial aspect during your study.” Final year project by Hanhui. Right now, Hanhui is still uncertain about her career path but she will take full advantage of every job opportunity around textiles, fashion and art. Although she has gained a strong foundation in fashion and textiles at ITC, she hopes to be more accomplished and have a better understanding of her career area. This is one of the reasons why she is continuing her studies as a postgraduate student at Parsons. “Parsons has a good reputation in the design area, especially fashion, and is one of my dream schools. I hope to further enhance myself there.” On a final note, Hanhui encourages all ITC students to follow their passion. Her advice is to: “Be curious, brave and grasp every opportunity. Stay true to yourself, look deep inside your heart, and go!”