HKRITA and H&M opens research facility for sustainable textile and fashion industry

It is located at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and the H&M Foundation launched Open Lab, a research facility to pursue a sustainable textile and fashion industry.

Located at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark, Open Lab is a 20,000-square-foot space for research and development, as well as a platform for fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing.

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.

It will feature two main components. The Pilot Plant is an end-to-end upcycling line for industrial-scale demonstrations and trials whilst the Fashion Future Lab is a research space for early-stage solutions of Farm-to-Garment projects. 

The lab will also house a technological database of over 80 of HKRITA's sustainable projects. The solutions developed will be licensed at cost, ensuring its affordability for widespread adoption.

Through the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSARG, the lab received support from manufacturers, brands, service providers and organisations that use textile and soft materials.