Area of Strategic Development – Fashion Design Technology Innovation

With a strategic emphasis on applied research, PolyU firmly believes that research is an integral part of academic life on campus. It informs teaching and advances the frontiers of knowledge and technology, thus contributing to lifting the competitiveness of business and industry and to Hong Kong’s move toward a knowledge-based economy.

ITC has earned fast-growing repute as a world-class research centre and Hong Kong’s top institute of its kind. With a strong research team, it is home to more than 100 cutting-edge research projects in progress. The Institute’s excellent achievements and potentials are well reflected in its success in attracting external funds from CERG, ITF, Contract Research and Joint Venture of $50.6 million during the past year.

ITC has also been hosting one of the University’s Areas of Strategic Development (ASD) in “Design and Technology Innovation in Textiles and Clothing”, formerly entitled “Fashion: Design and Technology Innovation”, since 1997. As the title Area of Strategic Development denotes, this is the strategic research focus of the Institute. Its objective is to reach Area of Excellence standard on a regional and/or international basis. The ASD mainly focus in three areas: Integrated Design Innovation, Intelligent Textile and Apparel Technology and Sensory Engineering Design and Technology.

Many ITC projects involve collaboration with other PolyU departments, such as Applied Biological and Chemical Technology, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Electronic and Information Engineering, School of Nursing, and Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre. Other partners include local universities, leading industry players and international organizations.

Since its establishment in 1997, the ASD has carried out extensive research with the following excellent outputs:

Completed ASD projects for the three major research areas are listed below:

Project Title Principal Investigator
Development of Product-based Information Systems Prof. Y. Li
Development of Automatic Fabric Inspection System Prof. P.K.W. Yeung
Innovative Apparel Products Prof. E. Newton
Clothing Appearance and Texture Prof. J.T. Fan
Fabric Hand and Mechanical Behaviour Dr K.F. Choi
Colour Communication Prof. J.H. Xin
Clothing Comfort Measurements Prof. Y. Li
CAD - Fashion and Textile Design Prof. E. Newton
CAD - Thermal Functional Design Prof. Y. Li
Smart Textiles and Clothing Prof. X.M. Tao
Product Innovation of Comfort Stretch / Pressure Garments Dr W.W.M. Yu
Development of intelligent Thermal Management Apparel Technology Prof. Y. Li
Development of Fashion Knitwear Using Advanced Technology Prof. E. Newton
Integrated Fashion and Textile Design Innovation Prof. E. Newton
Fashion Image Design with 3D Conceptualization Prof. J.T. Fan
Ergo-Apparel for Work Environment Dr A.C.K. Chan
Interactive Textiles and Apparel Prof. X.M. Tao
Study of Novel Shape Memory Polymers Prof. J.L. Hu
Surface Application Technology of Conductive Polymer Based Materials Prof. J.H. Xin
Study of Surface Modification of Textile Materials Using Nano-technologies Dr M.C.W. Yuen
Integrated CAD and Sensory Engineering Prof. Y. Li
Fabric Drape Characterization for Apparel Prof. J.L. Hu
Sensory Engineering of Clothing Appearance Prof. J.T. Fan
Colour Appearance and Visual Effect for Sensory Engineering Prof. J.H. Xin

The ASD has been assessed externally by a panel of internationally reputed scholars from US and China in June 2006. The committee members were highly impressed by the depth and breadth of research covered by the ASD and the successful integration of design with innovation technology and material science in the ASD. The committee members also praised that the work in the ASD is of high international standard for research in applied science and technology, and the performance of the ASD is outstanding and of world class.

Further Information

For further information, please contact Ms Chanel Fok, Marketing Officer:

Tel (852) 2766 6492
E-mail tcfokct@inet.polyu.edu.hk