News

PolyU and Fung Retailing Group sign MoU to promote sustainable fashion

We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Fung Retailing Group of the Fung Group. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony was held at the Opening Ceremony of Li & Fung Sustainable Fashion Week (利丰可持续时尚周) in Shanghai on 13 August. This collaboration will practise the concept of sustainable fashion together and facilitate the commercialisation of results of research on new functional fabrics in collaboration with companies in Minhang District in Shanghai.

Dr Fan Di receives media attention for publication

Dr Fan Di, Associate Professor, has published a significant study titled "Locking in Overseas Buyers Amid Geopolitical Conflicts" in the Journal of Operations Management. This collaborative research, conducted with scholars from Renmin University, the Australian National University, and Singapore Management University, explores the impact of the ongoing U.S.–China trade war on cross-border trade relationships. The study reveals that transactions between U.S. buyers and Chinese suppliers dropped by 18.42% following the 2018 trade war. It also highlights strategies for mitigating these impacts, emphasising the importance of innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in building resilient international relationships. The study provides essential insights for businesses that are navigating today’s deglobalised world. Dr Fan and his team suggest that Chinese suppliers with strong innovation capabilities and high CSR performance are better equipped to retain overseas buyers. Furthermore, while political connections can be beneficial during stable times, they may become liabilities amid geopolitical tensions, thus posing risks to international partnerships. Buyers, on the other hand, should carefully assess their dependence on specific suppliers and strive to balance supplier capabilities with supply chain flexibility to enhance resilience against geopolitical risks. The importance of Dr Fan's research work has caught the attention of major media outlets, including the South China Morning Post and Asia Times. An article in the South China Morning Post, "Is Vietnam losing its appeal for China’s manufacturers bypassing US tariffs?," examines how Chinese firms adapt their strategies amidst changing geopolitical dynamics. Similarly, the Asia Times discusses the ongoing challenges faced by Chinese EV manufacturers in "China EVs still driving for EU’s protected markets." These features underscore the relevance and impact of Dr Fan’s work, which offers a comprehensive analysis of the strategies that businesses can use to navigate the complexities of geopolitical conflicts. The Journal of Operations Management is a flagship peer-reviewed academic journal in the area of operations and supply chain management. It is listed in the Financial Times 50 and UT-Dallas journal lists, and ranked 4* on the UK’s ABS journal list and A* on Australia’s ABDC list. The full article is available here.

Prof. Joanne Yip garners two awards at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival

Professor Joanne Yip, Associate Dean, garnered two prestigious awards at the 2024 Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival (SVIIF), including the Prize of the Korea Invention Promotion Association and one gold medal. Professor Yip’s awarded project titled “Development of Intelligent Nighttime Brace with Smart Padding to Treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis” introduces an intelligent nighttime brace for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients with a Cobb’s angle of 10 to 25 degrees, using soft robotics and smart padding. Integrating clinical research, material science, and wearable technology, the brace features a smart system that automatically adjusts corrective forces and positioning, ensuring optimal spinal correction. Covered with sweat-wicking and breathable textiles, and equipped with an air-bag support belt for additional tractive forces, the brace promises comfort and efficiency. Real-time sensors monitor body-brace contact and sleeping posture, allowing dynamic adjustments to the wearer's movements, enhancing correction effectiveness, and minimising discomfort. The invention offers significant advantages: personalised treatment, improved patient compliance due to comfort, and reduced risk of skin issues. Its impact lies in providing a more effective, comfortable, and user-friendly solution for AIS treatment, potentially improving the quality of life for adolescents with scoliosis. Ongoing clinical trials aim to optimise this innovative brace, highlighting a commitment to advancing scoliosis management. SVIIF, which is the largest event of its kind in the United States, this year drew participation from approximately 30 countries and regions, representing a wide array of academic institutions, research institutes and enterprises. Supported and attended by multinational corporations, investors and entrepreneurs, the event serves as a crucial platform for inventors and the business community to explore commercialisation opportunities and seek partnerships.

Dr Shou Dahua honoured with PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Shou Dahua is the recipient of this year’s PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award. This prestigious honour recognises Dr Shou's exceptional contributions to research and his remarkable achievements as a young alumnus of PolyU. Dr Shou completed his PhD at PolyU and since then, has made significant strides in his field. He has shown his unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation. His groundbreaking research has not only garnered widespread recognition but has also had a profound impact on both the academia and industry practices. Dr Shou’s research interests include personal thermal and moisture management, advanced textiles, intelligent wearables, and soft robotics. He has published nearly 100 papers in well-respected academic journals and holds three U.S. patents and over ten Chinese patents. He is also the leader of more than 20 research grants from various competitive funds such as the GRF/ECS, ITF, GTF, and ECF. The Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award is presented annually to honour a distinguished young alumnus who has shown exemplary dedication to research excellence and made notable contributions to his/her field of study. Receiving this award underscores Dr Shou’s outstanding academic accomplishments and his potential to drive future advancements. SFT extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr Shou for this well-deserved honour. We look forward to witnessing his continued success and contributions to the global research community.

Prof. Tao Xiaoming secures RGC Theme-based Research Scheme for sustainable impacts

We are delighted to announce that Professor Tao Xiaoming, Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, Chair Professor of Textile Technology, and Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, has been awarded the esteemed Research Grants Council (RGC)'s Theme-based Research Scheme 2024/25 of HK$62.378 million*. This funding is for her project, "Mechanisms and Key Technologies of Multi-Sensory Emulation Wearable Devices”. Professor Tao's project aims to lead global research in multi-sensory emulation wearable devices, capitalising on PolyU’s exceptional multidisciplinary expertise and facilities in flexible materials, sensors and actuators for the Internet of Things (IoT), wearable and biomedical applications, electronic fabrics, mathematics for artificial intelligence, acoustics and signal processing. It also aims to emulate the less enhanced yet urgently needed sensations of touch (tactile) and smell (olfactory) through a study of multi-sensory emulation wearable devices (MSEWDs) that reveals their operational mechanisms, and to develop relevant key technologies and applications. First-of-its-kind emulation mechanisms based on fibrous structures and their bionic actuation devices will be developed for delivering mixed scents and tactile sensations. Leveraging AI models to link measured signals obtained by biosensors and algorithms for controlling the bionic emulation devices will offer more immersive experiences. The target of the MSEWDs includes: A device that senses and simulates olfactory sensation by AI-controlled scent-making and dispersion of mixed scents; A fabric tactile emulator that senses and tunes reactive forces and temperature by changing its rigidity, dimension, surface morphology and thermoelectric properties; and A wearable fabric-based acoustic stethoscope that continuously detects the location and intensity of sound generated from human internal organs. This research has far-reaching impacts that extend beyond the development of novel fibre-based multi-sensory emulation wearable devices. Ultimately, it also contributes to diverse social and industrial fields, encompassing healthcare, IoT, smart cities, art technology, robotics, education, sports, fashion and textiles, and personal protection. Professor Erin Cho, Dean and Limin Professor in Integrated Strategies and Leadership in Fashion , said, "Words cannot fully express my appreciation about this milestone. The first-ever Theme based Research Scheme in SFT distinctively excellent institutional history. This achievement is the immense source of pride not only for SFT for the entire university. The Theme-based Research Scheme, by all means, represents one of the most difficult and competitive grants to secure, further underscored by the substantial size of the funding.This is also the major reflection of Professor Tao’s lifetime commitment and devotion to her research. She is an internationally renowned and celebrated scholar in fiber science and wearable technology, with numerous distinctive awards and recognitions to her name. Her success in securing this grant also marks one of her most significant accomplishments, a goal she has pursued with unwavering determination. Please join me in congratulating Professor Tao. SFT is deeply honored to have her as our academic leader and a dedicated citizen of our community."   * RGC provides 90% of the approved budget and the remaining 10% will be provided by the coordinating University.

Dr Shou Dahua develops intelligent activewear for a dry and comfortable experience

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games are just around the corner and a global sports frenzy is underway. However, intense summer workouts often lead to sportswear absorbing excessive sweat, becoming clingy and cumbersome, causing discomfort and potentially impacting performance. Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Associate Professor, Dr Shou Dahua has developed the iActive™ sportswear range which features a root-like liquid transport system and a skin-like active perspiration dissipater and utilises nature-inspired, anti-heat textile fabrics to expedite sweat removal, effectively reducing the weight and stickiness of activewear caused by sweat accumulation during exercise. The human body has millions of sweat glands that are vital for regulating body temperature by dissipating sweat for evaporation to cool the skin’s surface. With unabating greenhouse gas emissions, the number of very hot days annually is expected to increase significantly. This will lead to elevated energy consumption and increased sweating during physical activity and outdoor labour. Even when wearing highly breathable clothes with good sweat-wicking properties, individuals may still experience discomfort due to excessive sweat accumulation. A research team led by Dr Shou, has invented the groundbreaking iActive™, intelligent, electrically activated sportswear with a nature-inspired active perspiration function. This pioneering innovation has garnered significant recognition, including a Gold Medal at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva this April. Its nature-inspired technologies, including low-voltage-driven artificial “sweat glands” created by skin-like anti-heat textile fabrics and a root-like branching liquid transport system that aligns with the body’s sweat map, can actively and programmably transport sweat to a perspiration dissipater at the lower region of the sportswear, and quickly remove it as liquid droplets. The all-textile sweat dissipater is compact and operates at a safe output voltage of approximately 5-9V, and its battery is easy to detach from the clothing, making it convenient for users to repeatedly wash the clothing by hand or in a washing machine to maintain hygiene. When the human body’s sweat rate is low, iActive™ can still be used independently without the battery. Based on the optimised wettability pattern and gradient, the research team utilises a skin-like textile fabric to transport sweat one-way quickly and dissipate it directionally from the inside to the outside. This feature reduces the stickiness and weight of clothing, improves breathability and ensures the garments remain dry and comfortable to wear. Experimental findings indicate that iActive™ creates a breathable and dry skin microclimate by dissipating sweat at a rate that is three times faster than the maximum human sweating rate. This innovation can also prevent discomfort from coldness and moisture after a workout. In comparison to traditional fabrics, the textile materials in iActive™ are 60% lighter and 50% less clingy when soaked, providing the wearer with all-round comfort and enabling sports enthusiasts and athletes to perform at their best. Furthermore, a mobile app further aids personalised sweat management by wirelessly adjusting the sweat level of iActive™. This innovation is versatile and can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of textile materials to facilitate sustainable mass production. Beyond sportswear, iActive™ is also well-suited to protective clothing and workwear for individuals engaged in prolonged, high-intensity physical labour and outdoor occupations, including healthcare professionals, construction workers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others, thereby significantly enhancing their work performance. Dr Shou stated, “The extreme weather and high temperatures resulting from global warming have elevated the importance of heatstroke prevention and cooling measures on a global scale. Drawing on the vivid phenomena of thermal insulation and directed liquid flow in nature, we aim to foster innovation and sustainable advancement in garment manufacturing by inventing intelligent clothing and materials to address global challenges. We seek to harness the power of technology to infuse fresh perspectives into the traditional clothing industry, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.” His research team has also developed a premium fabric named Omni-Cool-Dry™, drawing inspiration from volcano dwelling beetles. This fabric not only provides ultra-fast sweat dissipation and ensures all-day comfort with its dry and breathable features under dynamic thermal conditions, but also reflects solar radiation and emits body heat into the cold universe, enabling passive cooling. The team is working hard to leverage the benefits of both inventions to further enhance the sweat-dissipating and cooling capability of iActive™ sportswear. Dr Shou, a core member of the PolyU Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems and the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion, has recently been bestowed with the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award by The Fiber Society for his outstanding contributions to the fields of personal thermal and moisture management, intelligent wearables and soft robotics. The accolade is presented annually to an individual researcher worldwide. He has also received international innovation awards, including consecutive TechConnect Global Innovation Awards in 2021 and 2022. Moreover, his research papers have been published in various internationally renowned academic journals including Science Advances, PNAS, Advanced Functional Materials, and Advanced Energy Materials. Dr Shou will be chairing The Fiber Society Spring 2025 Conference at PolyU.

Prof. Christina Wong conferred as RGC Senior Research Fellow and awarded fellowship grant of HK$8 million

SFT is thrilled to announce that Professor Christina Wong is an awardee of the highly competitive RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) 2024/25 offered by the Research Grants Council (RGC) for excellence in research on the circular economy for global sustainable production and consumption.  This year, the RGC selected 10 nominees among 38 nominations for the SRFS awards. Professor Wong has been conferred the title "RGC Senior Research Fellow" and PolyU will receive a fellowship grant of around HK$8 million for her 5-year research project titled “Beyond Regulatory Exertion: Circular Economy Governance, and its Institutionalization and Performance Impacts”. The circular economy represents a model of production and consumption in which products and materials are cycled back into the economy until the end of their useful life, thereby reducing global material extraction. However, only 7.2% of global resources that enter the market are recovered and recycled annually, according to the Circularity Gap Report published at the World Economic Forum in 2023. Despite government efforts in setting action plans and policies on the circular economy, collective industrial efforts are essential for monitoring and controlling waste and resource efficiency. Considering the knowledge gap on circular economy governance and its benefits, the research addresses this challenge by demonstrating how different business conditions affect governance performance in the circular economy, and subsequently driving the establishment of circular economy governance. Professor Wong said, “Receiving this funding award greatly contributes to my research work on sustainable goals for responsible consumption and production. The exceptional capacity of PolyU, and its academic and research expertise, specialised facilities, and interdisciplinary resources have extensively supported our research, thus empowering us to generate profound societal impacts.” The RGC SRFS aims to provide sustained support and relief from teaching and administrative duties to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the Associate Professor rank (or full Professor rank) of UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong, with the view to facilitate their full dedication to research and development and help universities attract and retain research talent.

PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2023

PolyU has launched the Patents Achievement Award in appreciation and honour of the remarkable achievements of departments and inventors who actively engaged in IP filing. The award reflects the collective drive to foster innovation and safeguard intellectual properties. We are excited to share that the SFT is awarded the PolyU Top Patents Filing Award 2023, recognising our IP filing activities over the past five years (2019-2023). Congratulations to all the SFT inventors for your contributions!

PolyU and AELIS Couture forge innovative partnership for Fall/Winter 2024/25 Couture Collection

PolyU is excited to announce its partnership with the esteemed Paris fashion house AELIS Couture (AELIS) for the F/W 2024/25 couture collection that was showcased during the haute couture week in Paris on 27 June. Created by the legendary haute couture designer Sofia Crociani, the Collection introduces sustainable metal-coated textiles developed by SFT, blending cutting-edge technology with luxury fashion. This innovative textile technology was developed by the research team led by Professor Kinor Jiang, using developed metallising technology to place ultra-thin, nano-scale metal films onto textiles. Without discharging any polluted water or chemicals, the non-aqueous process results in textiles that are not only visually stunning but also sustainable. For this Collection, the team created a precious gold and silver coated sustainable silk organza with a metallic pearly sheen while maintaining the comfort and flexibility of traditional textiles. The collaboration with AELIS, renowned for its artful designs and sustainable approach to fashion, reflects PolyU’s commitment to advancing textile technology and its applications in the fashion industry. The integration of PolyU’s metal-coated textiles into AELIS Couture’s designs reveals a collection that embodies both style and state-of-the-art technology. Professor Christopher Chao, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) said, “We are thrilled to partner with AELIS for their F/W 2024/25 couture collection. The collaboration with AELIS Couture is a shining example of how PolyU’s research can be translated into real-world applications, bridging the gap between technology and artistry in fashion. We are proud to see our sustainable innovations contribute to the creation of couture that is as technologically advanced as it is beautiful.” Ms Sofia Crociani, Founder of AELIS, expressed her excitement at the partnership, “For AELIS Couture, the project with PolyU, born after a cycle of ‘sustainable lectures’ jointly organised by PolyU and the French Consulate in Hong Kong, is the result of a wonderful effort to advance in the ecological and technological research field. Working with PolyU has been an inspiring journey. Their precious metal-coated textiles have allowed us to explore new dimensions of design and sustainability. We are proud to present a collection that reflects the synergy between PolyU’s technological expertise and our commitment to eco-conscious couture.” Through this international collaboration, PolyU joins hands with AELIS to make a bold statement in the fashion world, showcasing the potential of merging sustainability with luxury art-to-wear. The AELIS F/W 2024/25 Couture Fashion Show that took place during the “haute couture week” in Paris represents an event where innovation meets grace and elegance, setting a new standard for the future of couture.

Visit to Qingyuan Textile and Fashion Industry Transfer Park

A group of SFT staff, including Professors John Xin and Fei Bin, as well as Dr Chen Jianming visited the Qingyuan Textile and Fashion Industry Transfer Park (TFITP) on 4 and 5 June 2024. Qingyuan is the largest prefecture-level city in the Guangdong province, with an abundance of natural resources and good ecological environment. Located beside the Beijiang River, the TFITP is close to the boundaries of the Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, and Qingyuan cities, and has a convenient transportation infrastructure of railways, highways, waterways and airlines. The city is still under construction, with the target to become the fast fashion smart manufacturing base of China, with an investment of RMB 100 billion in 10,000 acres of open land. The General Secretary of Qingyuan city, Mr Lin Kecong, provided an introduction of the entire park plan to the group of visitors. Located in the same building as the TFITP are the Zhijing Technology Apparel Fabrics Museum and a branch of the National Standard Testing Center as representative service providers for the fashion and textile manufacturers nearby. These organisations are also expected to serve SFT students in their future FYP activities, as Professor John Xin mentioned during his discussion with the local director of the State Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd, Ms Guo Jingwen. The leading company in the TFITP, Zhonghua Group, has established a platform called Zhongda Fashion Technology City to attract more companies to join this park and form an integral supply chain of fashion and textiles. The director, Mr Hu Zhonghua, expressed interest in collaboration with SFT to explore innovative yarn spinning techniques. In the past, he has also enjoyed a collaboration with Donghua University in Shanghai by providing internship opportunities and positions.  The SFT delegation also visited several other companies including Tiansi Pinhui Industrial Co., Ltd., which is initiating an automatic hanger system in their smart factory for T-shirt production. The company director, Mr Shi Xuezheng, demonstrated the high efficiency and accuracy of their digital production line operated by well-trained workers from local higher vocational colleges.