and textiles

Hong Kong Polytechnic University the establishment of the school of fashion and textiles

On the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) announced the official upgrade of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) and the establishment of the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), the third flagship and independent school within PolyU. The opening ceremony was held at the University's Jockey Club Innovation Tower on 2 September 2022.

The School is an international institution integrating fashion and textile education, and innovative technology research. It will comprehensively enhance the competitive advantage of SFT graduates and Hong Kong's fashion and textile industry while also aligning it with the market development of the Greater Bay Area. The School's vision is to lead the fashion industry and create societal impact while offering solutions that leverage the research and innovative excellence of the School.

The School is renowned for its worldclass teaching and academic achievements. Its academics come from around the world, specialising and leading the way in a variety of academic and research areas including wearable and smart textiles, medical textiles and functional clothing, social fashion design, sustainable fashion, digital fashion marketing, and fashion supply chain management. According to a report by Stanford University in 2021, 13 ITC Scholars are ranked among the world's top 2% scientists. Furthermore, according to CEOWORLD magazine, SFT was ranked the second in Asia and 43rd in the world of the World's Best Fashion Schools in 2022. The School has set and reached significant milestones in its pursuit of research excellence for societal impact. Last year, SFT was highly appraised in the Hong Kong University Grants Committee (UGC) "2020 Research Review Exercise", and its research in the creative arts, performing arts and design was the best among the eight UGC-funded institutions.

About the School of Fashion and Textiles

Formerly known as the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC), the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) is the pioneer of fashion and textiles education in Hong Kong. Since its inception in 1957, SFT has developed into a world-class institution in fashion and textile education, research and services. SFT offers a wide range of academic programmes embracing such disciplines as fashion and textiles technology, design, retail and marketing, intimate apparel and activewear, and knitwear design and technology. Its extensive ground-breaking research and innovations have advanced the development of the global textiles and fashion industry and helped transform Hong Kong from a manufacturing and merchandising base in the 1950s and 60s to an international fashion design, creative and branding hub today.