H&M Foundation and HKRITA open research lab in Hong Kong
©H&M Foundation
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and the H&M Foundation proudly announce the official unveiling of the Open Lab, a pioneering initiative designed to revolutionize the textile and fashion industry through sustainable innovation.
Located at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark, the Open Lab is set to become a dynamic hub for industry-wide collaboration, providing a 20,000-square-foot physical space for research and development, as well as a platform for fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing. Building on Hong Kong's strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and innovation-friendly environment, the Open Lab aims to not only support HKRITA's research but also become a hub for applied solutions to scale up to industrial-scale applications for the benefit of all global stakeholders addressing the challenges of climate change.
With the support of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSARG, the Open Lab also received support from many stakeholders from multiple industries. These include manufacturers, brands, service providers, and organizations that use textile and soft materials. The common goal is to address our shared environmental challenges by developing agile and scalable solutions. The Open Lab's approach is threefold: to showcase innovative solutions at scale, to provide a collaborative platform for industry-wide partnerships, and to contribute to problem-solving – thereby catalyzing the transformative journey of the fashion and textile industry toward a sustainable future.
The Open Lab features two main components: the Pilot Plant, which is an end-to-end upcycling line designed for industrial-scale demonstrations and technology trials, including an AI-powered smart garment sorting system for recycling and the Green Machine 2.0, which separates polyester fibers from PET-cotton blended textiles at scale, reaching up to 1 ton of daily recycling capacity; while the Fashion Future Lab is a modular research space focusing on early-stage solutions with the first project "Farm-to-Garment", a location-independent production line from hydroponic cotton cultivation to yarn processing and garment knitting.
Open Lab also houses a technological database of over 80 of HKRITA's sustainable projects. Open Lab transforms lab-scale outcomes into useful industrial applications by bridging the research lab and industry gap. Solutions developed here will be licensed at cost, ensuring they are affordable for widespread adoption. This approach maximizes the impact of reducing the carbon footprint and driving greater circularity within the industry.
Growth in research capabilities is a key focus for Open Lab, and it is dedicated to nurturing young innovators and startups. Participants can work closely with scientists and engineers on meaningful textile-related sustainability technology through its upcoming residency program, which will be available to global undergraduates and postgraduates in full-time STEM-related programs. For other curious minds, the Open Lab Challenge will invite creative solutions to various textile sustainability topics.
