Latest Technology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Institute of Textiles and Clothing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University possesses a great deal of expertise in various areas of the fashion industry. More than one hundred projects are being undertaken by the Institute. These projects are grouped under five categories, i.e. fashion and textile design, textile and apparel materials and products, textile and apparel technology, textile and colour chemistry, and marketing and management. The output of these projects either has academic value or can be readily translated into marketable industrial applications:

Area of Strategic Development – Fashion Design Technology Innovation
Fashion Design and Technology Innovation, formerly entitled Apparel Product Development and Marketing, is one of the University's Areas of Strategic Development (ASD). As the title Area of Strategic Development denotes, this is the strategic research focus of the Institute.  Since its establishment in 1997, the ASD has carried out extensive research with excellent outputs. Substantial additional funding more than $70 million from external sources such as CERG, ITF, contract research and joint venture has been secured. The ASD has been assessed externally by a panel of internationally reputed scholars from China/Japan and the UK in 2001, and was applauded 'a world-class research centre'. As a result, another $11 million was allocated by the University to support the further development of the ASD in three major areas: [1] Integrated Fashion Innovation; [2] Intelligent Textiles and Apparel; [3] Clothing Bioengineering.

Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is an advanced technology whereby the next generation of fibre produces functional and intelligent textile materials and apparel. The Institute has recently established a Nanotechnology Centre, where four research projects related to the development of nano-finishing technology, nanotechnology for functional and intelligent textiles, and apparel products are being conducted. For more information, please click here.

Novel Ring Yarns and Production Technology
The technology can be used to produce torque free singles ring yarns named "Nu-Torque singles ring yarn" by a single step on ring spinning machines. The fabrics produced have clear and smooth surface, soft handle and good strength, in addition to very low fabric spirality after washing and tumble-drying cycles. For more information, please click here.

Shape Memory Textiles
The smart textiles can recover their original shape when washed in hot water. The tailor-made shape polymers can be used for finishing textiles and for making fibres and films. For more information, please click here.

Cubicam
Cubicam are operated simply by logging in using a smart card before and after your fitness programmes. It will generate a report indicating how much you have lost in critical body parts and the way in which your shape has improved.

For details of research projects completed or being undertaken by the Institute, click here.

Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel was set up in April 2006 with funding support from the Innovation and Technology Commission.  Hosted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Institute will draw on the research expertise of its host institute and technology partners to serve the highly competitive textiles and clothing clusters in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Its core competencies include textile technology, textile chemistry, apparel technology, fashion and textile design, textile management, quality management, marketing, merchandising, and fashion retailing.

Clothing Industry Training Authority

Other agencies, such as Clothing Industry Training Authority, also endeavour to conduct research projects for enhancing the competitiveness of the industry.