News

Advance Denim: Digital Sustainable Denim Competition

Congratulations to Liu Yawen (MA, 2023), winner of First Prize; Yin Hao (MA, 2023), winner of the Most Creative Award; and Sheng Zhichao (MA, 2023) finalist of the ‘Advance Denim: Digital Sustainable Denim Competition 2023’. They are all graduating students from the MA in Fashion and Textile Design. The competition, organised by Advance Denim, aims to inspire and empower the next generation of designers to be pioneers in the digital fashion movement. A total of 10 finalists were shortlisted out of many entrants who hail from the best art and design colleges and universities globally. The shortlisted works were rigorously evaluated and scored in four major areas: conceptual sustainability, clothing application prospects, clothing innovation, and denim aesthetics. Liu Yawen received First Prize for her denim design “Chip Sacrifice”. One of the judges, Adriano Goldschmied, had this to say about Winifred’s design: " I really appreciate that she used recycled materials to create the metal accessories. Not only does it reduce the negative impact on environmental pollution, but also shows the commitment to and choice of using an environmentally friendly design. In terms of the design aesthetics, I love the asymmetry, especially on jackets, with the flexibility to zip it up or button it down. It’s very creative!” Another judge, Jason Denham, commented, “I love the smooth symmetrical cuts and interesting textures and finishing of the design.” All of the winners of the competition have the opportunity to produce their designed garment, which will be displayed and shown on the catwalk at the Hong Kong Denim Festival x Kingpins in November 2023. Many renowned designers and seniors from abroad served as the panel of judges at this competition: Adriano Goldschmied, Italian Fashion Designer (also known as "the Godfather of denim") Jason Denham, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Denham the Jeanmaker Amy Wang, one of the most influential figures in the global Rivet denim fabric industry Five senior designers from Advance denim Congratulations to all the winners.

Chan Hiu-nam: from Intern to Marketing Vendor at FENDI

“Never hesitate to seize opportunities and explore your passion. The only way to achieve something extraordinary and go beyond your wildest dreams is by taking chances.”   SFT takes pride in sharing the career journey of one of our final year BA students, Chan Hiu-nam, Herbie, documenting how Herbie is making remarkable strides in the luxury fashion industry. We chatted with her briefly to learn more about her experiences and insights as an intern and then staff at FENDI. Q: How did you find out about the internship opportunity at FENDI, a prestigious luxury fashion house? A: I learned about the opening through an email from Dr Carrie Wong, who manages SFT’s fashion business internship programme. The email informed all of the BA students about the marketing internship opportunity at FENDI Hong Kong. Without hesitation, I jumped at the chance, driven by my unwavering passion for the luxury fashion industry. Q: How did you prepare for your job interview with FENDI? A: Before the interview, I spent time to thoroughly prepare myself, role playing by practicing Q&A interviews to make sure that I was fully ready. Throughout the formal interview, my focus was on showing my profound passion for fashion, expressing my eagerness to contribute to both the fashion house and the team, and emphasising my commitment to continuous learning and development. Crucially, my aim was to present myself authentically, and share my good-natured character, career aspirations, and objectives for the luxury fashion industry. During the interview, I had the sense that FENDI was looking for someone who not only has a profound understanding and passion for fashion but also embodies self-love and authenticity. Fortunately, I successfully navigated the interview and secured an offer, which marked the start of my journey in FENDI's marketing internship programme in July 2023 — an exciting introduction to both my very first internship and the beginning of my career in the world of luxury fashion. Q: What is your current position? A: Initially, I started as an intern in the Regional Relations and Communications Department. I gained a sense of deep satisfaction with my work and appreciated the collaborative spirit of the team. Notably, my dedication was acknowledged, and at the end of my internship, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an offer to continue my work with FENDI. While my title has now changed to "Marketing Vendor", my responsibilities remain the same. Q: What are your primary responsibilities? A: My primary responsibilities include providing support to FENDI’s Regional Public Relations & Communications team. I organise media relations, coordinate with celebrities, and manage editorial and digital PR activities for FENDI’s Asia Pacific region and Hong Kong. I also work closely with the press coordinator on overseeing the overseas PR samples that are loaned out to celebrities and the media. Furthermore, I contribute to and participate in various PR campaigns and events hosted in Hong Kong. Q: What advice do you have for students who aspire to enter the luxury fashion industry? A: Be attentive to the emails from the School; you never know when they might present an opportunity that aligns with your career aspirations. Additionally, take the initiative to explore new internship prospects by thoroughly researching online. When you find job opportunities, don’t hesitate. Apply for the position! Explore your passion because the only way to do something extraordinary and go beyond your wildest dreams is by taking chances. SFT appreciates Herbie’s time and wisdom for sharing details of her career journey and valuable advice to her fellow peers and SFT students. We cannot wait to see the wonderful things that she is going to achieve at FENDI and wish her all the best.

Mint Studio: SFT's new fashion networking platform

Mint Studio, a new fashion networking platform under the School, is ready to offer new and exciting possibilities. This new venture connects local creators and can be used to explore endless possibilities in fashion design and industry practices in the Greater Bay Area. Mint Studio fosters close connections between designers and studio members, and encourages design sharing. The platform increases the exposure of both parties through a variety of different media channels, including fashion shows, pop-up spaces, exhibitions, trade shows, collaborations, business matching, etc. Mint Studio empowers local fashion talents, and is a virtual community for SFT alumni, initiating all kinds of collaborations. Mint Studio has hosted and collaborated with the industry for a series of exciting fashion events, including the showcase at CENTRESTAGE 2023, Futian International Fashion Exhibition, röyksopp gakkai x OKURA POP-UP, SZMAN x MHMH exhibition, K11 Skies Exhibition, Fashion Asia Hong Kong 2023, and K11 MUSEA Cement Pop-up, which highlight the talents of SFT alumni and graduates. Apart from physical events, Mint Studio’s virtual platform provides a seamless and efficient experience, enabling designers to effortlessly exhibit their works to buyers, consumers, media outlets, investors, and stylists.

Dr Fang Bo receives GRF and NSFC Young Scientists Fund 2023

Dr Fang Bo, Research Assistant Professor, is the grateful recipient of two external funds in 2023, including a General Research Fund (GRF) for RMB 1.1 million and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grant for RMB 300,000. The grants allow Dr Fang to pursue his interest in the structural optimisation and performance improvement of new-frontier functional fibres. After joining SFT in 2022, his focus has been on the scalable production of ultrafine conductive polymer fibres by using an innovative strategy of a good solvent exchange. The GRF project titled "Highly Crystalline Conducting Polymer Fibers via Good Solvent Exchange: Mechanism, Fabrication and Application" will conduct multidimensional demonstrations of the molecular migration theory during a good solvent exchange process, thus further establishing a general protocol to fabricate crystalline conductive polymer fibres and developing advanced fibrous electronics. The NSFC project titled "Study on the Controllable Fabrication and Ion-Regulation Performance of Ultrafine PEDOT Fibres" extends the good solvent exchange strategy to the industrial production of a specific type of conductive polymer fibre -  ultrafine poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) fibres, to build a relationship between ion regulation performance and the crystalline state, and manufacture durable ion-based devices. Dr Fang is committed to meeting the research objectives as he wishes to create reliable high-performance functional fibres and further the development of the functional fibre industry.

Advance Denim x MA Fashion and Textile Design collaboration

The MA in Fashion and Textile Design programme is proud to collaborate with Advance Denim, a highly respected denim manufacturer with the oldest denim mill in China. This partnership offers the MA fashion design students a unique opportunity to work alongside Advance Denim in creating a digital capsule denim collection. Our students immersed themselves in the world of denim by exploring its history and sustainable practices. Supported by our industry partners, they addressed sustainability challenges during the design phase through workshops and seminars. In April, the impressive designs by our MA students were showcased in a digital catwalk video at the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics. 28 students presented their work to an industry panel, and five winners were selected to produce a physical version of one outfit from their digital collection. Over the course of several months, they worked closely with the Advance Denim product development team in Shunde, Guangzhou. The resulting outfits will be showcased at the Hong Kong Denim Festival in November, which is excellent exposure for our talented MA students.  This collaboration exemplifies the School’s dedication to innovation and sustainability, while offering invaluable real-world experience to our students.

PolyU delegation visits Beijing and Tianjin

Led by Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman and Prof. Wing-tak Wong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost, a delegation from SFT visited Beijing from 12 October to 14 October, engaging in fruitful cooperation and exchanges with four local universities. Participating staff members include Dean Prof. Erin Cho, Associate Dean Prof. Joanne Yip, Assistant Professors Dr Huang Tsai-chun and Dr Jin Lam, Professor of Practice Dr Chen Zhiming, and PolyU's Mainland Development Office Director Prof. Lu Haitian. During the visit to Tsinghua University, in the presence of leaders from both universities, Prof. Cho and Prof. Ma Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). The MoU lays the foundation for further collaboration between the two schools, including faculty visits, student and academic exchanges. The PolyU delegation also visited the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing Union University and Tiangong University, to strengthen the collaboration with these top-tier fashion and textiles institutes.

Dr Shou Dahua wins distinguished achievement in fiber science

Dr Shou Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Assistant Professor, has been recognised by The Fiber Society with the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Fiber Science. This award is presented annually to an individual under the age of 40 who has made notable contributions to the field of basic or applied fibre science and materials engineering. The award presentation ceremony will take place at The Fiber Society’s Fall 2023 Technical Meeting and Conference in October 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The award recognises Dr Shou’s distinguished and important professional achievements in advancing the areas of personal thermal and moisture management, intelligent wearables, and soft robotics. Dr Shou says, “The Fiber Society’s Distinguished Achievement in Fiber Science award is a great honour for me. I am deeply committed to creating intelligent wear for better health, wear comfort, performance, and sustainability in the future.” Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “This achievement highlights the unwavering dedication of PolyU scholars toward research, consistently pushing the boundaries of academic knowledge and innovation. Dr Shou’s accomplishment has paved the way for future advancements in the industry, leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion and textiles.” Prof. Erin Cho, Dean of SFT also acknowledged Dr Shou’s contributions: “This prestigious recognition is a testament to Dr Shou’s expertise and intellectual prowess in the field of fibre science, as well as his commitment and perseverance in the pursuit of research excellence. Our School is thrilled by the fact that his groundbreaking contributions are being recognised on a global scale with this award.” Fibre, fabric, and fashion research works greatly emphasise thermal and moisture comfort, with Dr Shou leading the way in pioneering transformative technologies in this field. He has made significant contributions to moisture management and reported on the development of the world's first sweatable textile fabric: Sweatextile. This fabric enables fast, one-way liquid flow through spatially distributed channels that act like "sweating glands", while repelling external liquid contaminants. The study, titled “Skin-like fabric for personal moisture management” has been published in Science Advances. In addition to his other translational research endeavours, Dr Shou has developed a premium fabric named Omni-Cool-Dry, which drew inspiration from beetles. This fabric not only provides ultra-fast sweat dissipation and ensures all-day wear comfort with its cooling, drying, and breathable features under dynamic thermal conditions, but also reflects solar radiation and emits body heat into the environment, thus enabling passive cooling. Omni-Cool-Dry is an excellent solution for personal cooling, as heat records continue to be shattered globally. Furthermore, Dr Shou invented iActive, an intelligent, electrically-activated activewear designed for sweat management. These nature-inspired technologies, including low-voltage-driven artificial "sweat glands" and a root-like branching liquid transport system that aligns with the body's sweat map, can effectively and systematically remove sweat. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant demand for breathable and comfortable protective equipment. Dr Shou and his team developed “iFiber”, which leverages on advanced functional materials and wearable technologies and resulted in the first air-conditioned mask, Omni-Cool-Breath. As Principal Investigator, Dr Shou has secured nine external competitive research grants, including the General Research Fund/Early Career Scheme from the Research Grants Council; Innovation and Technology Fund from the Innovation and Technology Commission; and Environment Conservation Fund from the Environment and Ecology Bureau. He is also dedicated to developing innovative projects, such as soft robotic clothing for adaptive thermoregulation, an intelligent hip protector for the elderly, intelligent activewear with sweat-based health monitoring, and an all-textile solar steam generator for clean water production. With outstanding accomplishments in fibre science and wearable technology, Dr Shou has also received a number of international awards for innovation. These include consecutive TechConnect Global Innovation Awards in 2021 and 2022, as well as Silver Medal at the 2022 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member for seven leading SCI journals.

The legendary Sir Paul Smith inspires SFT students and staff

SFT was honoured to host an inspiring talk by renowned British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith on 3 October. The event was held on PolyU campus, and attracted nearly 300 students, faculty members, and alumni. Sir Paul Smith, known for his distinctive designs and unique approach to fashion, captivated the audience with his engaging storytelling and wealth of experience. The talk centred around his illustrious career, creative process, and the evolving landscape of the fashion industry. During his sharing session, Sir Paul shared anecdotes from his early days as a young designer, and emphasised the importance of perseverance, passion, and embracing individuality. He reflected on how he built his eponymous brand from humble beginnings, and highlighted the challenges that he faced and lessons learned along the way. He also shared the significance of creativity and inspiration, and the need for designers to embrace innovative ideas and practical designs. His insights resonated deeply with the audience. The talk concluded with a captivating Q&A session, during which the students had the opportunity to engage directly with Sir Paul. The event was a resounding success. Prof. Erin Cho, Dean of SFT, expressed her gratitude to Sir Paul for sharing his wisdom and experiences with the PolyU community. She stated, "Sir Paul Smith's visit has been truly inspiring for our students. His creative vision and passion for fashion will undoubtedly motivate our students throughout their design journey.”

Prof. Li Li ignites knowledge sharing and growth

Prof. Li Li, Associate Director of PolyU PAIR, and Director of the CR-PolyU Joint Research Institute for Carbon Neutral New Materials, hosted four research seminars over the past few months with the goal of igniting interdisciplinary dialogue and stimulating new ideas. The research seminars exposed the PolyU community to a wide range of knowledge that ranged from materials science and AI to textiles in architecture. Among the seminars, Prof. Gang Sun of the University of California, Davis spoke about “Applied textile chemistry: development of functional materials for improved personal protection and safety”; Prof. Xianyi Zeng of ENSAIT Textile Engineer School – University of Lille talked about “Fashion digitalization: creating a Metaverse ecosystem for supporting textile/fashion design by combining digital simulation and AI-based human-product interactions”; Prof. Minehiro Nishiyama of Kyoto University elaborated on “Low-carbon concrete-material, mechanical properties, structural design, construction, and demolition of buildings”; and Ms Kumiko Enya of the Kumiko Enya First-Class Architect Office described the “Design and construction of "Chashitsu" and "Ryouriya" in Kyoto - a portable room for tea ceremonies and an authentic Japanese restaurant”. Scholars of different backgrounds connected their expertise with textiles and fostered cross-disciplinary sharing, which inspired the participants to think more diversely, flexibly, and innovatively. These seminars that involve different fields of knowledge provide SFT students and colleagues with a platform to exchange knowledge with experts, increase their  knowledge base and stimulate their creativity.

Dr Dahua Shou awarded Green Tech Fund for sustainable building clothing project

Congratulations to Dr Shou Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Assistant Professor whose project, titled “Development of Multi-Functional “Building Clothing” using Textile Waste for Energy Saving and Waste Reduction”, has been awarded the Green Tech Fund (GTF). The global fashion and textile industry, valued at an estimated US$2.5 trillion, is responsible for 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted annually, which is equivalent to almost 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental crisis is further worsened by the fact that over 85% of discarded textiles are simply sent to landfills or incinerated. In Hong Kong alone, an average of 392 tonnes of textile waste is sent to the landfills daily, with just 0.4% of textiles being recovered for recycling. Dr Shou aims to create multi-functional, value-added "building clothing" (BC) from textile waste to contribute to reducing the global carbon footprint. Textile waste, which often consists of blended yarns, is difficult to recycle due to the challenges and high cost of sorting, depolymerisation, and dissolution. As such, textile waste which is most difficult to reuse but intrinsically durable and thermally-resistant, will be collected and used in Dr Shou’s project to develop a sustainable building envelope for thermal insulation and radiative cooling through a mass production method. Leveraging photon engineering, a nature-inspired design, and heat transfer optimisation, the proposed BC will excel in managing building temperatures. In addition to minimisation of thermal conductivity, the textile-reinforced hierarchical microstructure and colourants will selectively reflect solar heat, including visible light (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light, and emit thermal radiation in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. Furthermore, BC effectively repels water and dirt on surfaces, thus ensuring a consistent and robust performance. The reuse of textile waste as thermal insulation for sustainable buildings is an effective green technology that synergistically combines the two crucial components of achieving carbon neutrality in Hong Kong: recycling textile waste and saving on building energy consumption. In Hong Kong, buildings are responsible for 90% of energy consumption and over 60% of carbon emissions. The use of a thermoregulative BC can reduce energy consumption of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which account for 36% of the energy utilised in most households. This multi-functional BC, enhanced with multi-colour aesthetics, is both highly durable and lightweight, as well as flame-resistant, so that the material is compatible with a variety of settings or products, such as residential and industrial buildings, village and stilt houses, substations and container apartments, or curtains, canopies and tents, respectively. Green Tech Fund (GTF) The GTF was established in 2020 to provide funding support to research and development projects that can help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental protection. The assessment committee is chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection and comprises members from the academia, industry and green groups.