Hong Kong is the world's second-largest clothing and apparel exporter after mainland China.

With innovative design and quality products, the local industry has successfully established an up-market image worldwide. With the implementation of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the removal of the quota system under the WTO Agreement, the industry has to spearhead its innovative drive and develop more high value-added products to maintain and further enhance its competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) was established in April 2006. To enhance Hong Kong's "cutting edge", we have the funding support from Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR Government. HKRITA is also supported by institutes, companies and associations in the textile and clothing industry in Hong Kong, mainland China and other countries.

Host Institute: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is the major provider of academic training and the principal research organisation dedicated to the textiles and clothing industry in Hong Kong. It has accumulated rich experience in technological research resulting in major achievements. Indeed, the Institute of Textiles and Clothing of PolyU is internationally recognised as one of the top three world-class research centres in this field.

HKRITA's role

HKRITA is hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). We will draw on the research expertise of our host institute and technology partners to serve the highly competitive textiles and clothing clusters in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our core competencies include textile technology, textile chemistry, apparel technology, fashion and textile design, textile management, quality management, marketing, merchandising, and fashion retailing.

HKRITA will act as a focal point to enhance technological innovation for the development of highly competitive industrial clusters in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. These will cover:

• Core industries: textile, clothing, leather, and footwear.
• Supporting industries: chemical engineering, machinery, electronics, marketing, trading, financing, legal, and logistics.
• Potential new industrial sectors: wearable (textile) electronics, biomedical (textile) products and devices.

As a leading centre of excellence in research, development and technology transfer in fashion and textile technologies, HKRITA will enhance more scientific and technological advancement and thus offer greater direct and indirect benefits to the industry.