Hong Kong

The path to circularity in fashion is not paved with singular solutions or isolated innovations. It is shaped by the willingness of stakeholders to come together, question assumptions, and collaborate in new ways. The ESCF project has shown that manufacturers, when given space and voice, are not just implementers—they are co-creators of the future. 

A major player in the Enabling Systemic Circularity in Fashion project of the Forum for the Future was leading apparel manufacturer, Crystal International Group. A spokesperson of the group talks about how brands and retailers can collaborate with their manufacturing partners in making the concept of circular fashion work in reality.

The Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, one of the leading destinations for sourcing fabrics and accessories, gets under way today. As visitors start to throng the three-day event, Wendy Wen, Managing Director of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, talks about Shanghai and what to expect from the event.

A group of researchers has crafted an AI-enabled jacket with an electronic textile that warms the user without overheating and provides immediate temperature readings for easy monitoring.

LiteHide is an innovative process that effectively eliminates the scourge of tanneries: the use of salt, which is a huge global land and waterway pollutant. Alexandra Pelka, Head of Europe and Business Development of Leatherteq Limited—the innovator of the technology—talks at length about leather, processes and technology.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited (HKRITA) has developed a mechanical recycling method for denim fabrics that addresses the challenge of minimising fibre damage using existing mechanical recycling technologies.

Open Lab, a 20,000 sq ft facility, launched by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and the H&M Foundation, is set to become a global hub for sustainable innovation, focusing on climate action and industry-wide collaboration to showcase solutions and ongoing research to enable industry to quickly adjust, iterate, pilot and scale faster.

Inspired by the adaptive thermal regulation mechanism in pigeons, a team of researchers in Hong Kong has developed the first-of-its-kind intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic temperature adaptation and thermal insulation in hot environments, offering superior personal protection and thermal comfort across a range of temperatures.

A Hong Kong researcher shows how textile waste can be reused as thermal insulation for sustainable buildings as an effective green technology that synergistically combines two crucial components in achieving carbon neutrality: textile waste recycling and building energy saving.

The Redress Design Award 2024 is calling on emerging designers globally to apply with their circular and sustainable fashion collections before the closing date of 15 March 2024. It is estimated that 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage.