In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government collaborated to showcase modern Chinese fashion. PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) was invited to design outfits for key female government figures, including the Chief Executive’s wife, five bureau secretaries, and the director of the Chief Executive’s Office. These outfits were worn at the National Day flag-raising ceremony and other celebratory events.
Led by Jin Lam Chi-hin, Associate Professor at SFT, the design team created seven bespoke ‘China-chic’ outfits over a period of three months. The designs reflected the personal styles and professional roles of the officials, incorporating traditional Chinese elements such as knot buttons, Mandarin collars, and jacquard fabrics. The collection merges traditional Chinese culture with modern aesthetics, using innovative tailoring to highlight the elegance of contemporary women.
Jin Lam, a PolyU graduate, has gained recognition for her work, including a commendation from the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2024. PolyU’s Council Chairman, Lam Tai-fai, emphasized that the project demonstrates the university's leadership in combining Chinese heritage with modern design. He added that PolyU is committed to nurturing fashion talents to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s leading fashion hub.
This project aims to inspire young designers to embrace Chinese cultural elements in their work, fostering national pride and advancing oriental aesthetics globally. PolyU’s SFT, with 67 years of history, continues to evolve its curriculum to include modern subjects like AI and sustainability to stay at the forefront of the fashion industry.
