HKRITA Wins Seven Global Innovation Awards

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has been developing innovative technologies aligned with its research themes of sustainable development, Industry 4.0, and social good. In the past two months, a number of our R&D projects received seven awards in the Just Style Excellence Awards and the World Changing Ideas Awards.

Winning Five Category Awards in the Just Style Excellence Awards

Our first-ever project for individuals in recovery from breast cancer “Developing a Customised Comfort Bra to Aid Recovery from Mastectomy” received two category awards, Research and Development (Medical Textiles) and Social (Health & Wellness), in the Just Style Excellence Awards. The mastectomy bras, developed with ergonomic design and 3D printing structure design and engineering, cater to the specific needs of women of different ages and recovering conditions.

The project “Compact Electro-adhesion Gripper for Fabric Handling” has made significant strides in driving the transformation of the textile industry towards Industry 4.0. This gripper has received recognition in the Innovation (Fabric Handling Devices) category of the Awards for its effort in making the fabric manipulation process more flexible and efficient and increasing the level of automation.

HKRITA was also acknowledged for its development of several environmentally friendly textile technologies, spanning diverse topics of eco-friendly dyeing, microplastics degradation, and separation of blended fibres for recycling. These innovative initiatives have received accolades in both the Innovation and Environmental categories of the Awards, highlighting their contribution to promoting sustainable development in the textile industry.

The mastectomy bra and the customised bra pad better fit the body shape of the Asian wearers when compared to existing products in the market

The roller is applied to the edge of the fabric, which is then attracted to the roller by electro-adhesion

Using fabric surface functionalisation by metal-organic framework to enhance natural dye uptake can encourage the replacement of less eco-friendly synthetic dyes

An eco-friendly, effective and economic solution to biodegrade microplastics by using a naturally occurring microbial consortium

 

Receiving Two World Changing Ideas Awards

The World Changing Ideas Awards honour organisations that develop creative solutions to the pressing issues of our time. HKRITA’s two projects, “Acousweep: an innovative microplastic fibre separation system using sweeping acoustic waves” and the initiative to turn beverage and fruit waste into bio-cellulose textile fibres, were recognised in its water and materials categories, respectively. Acousweep revolutionised the microplastic treatment process by using sweeping acoustic waves to trap and recover microplastics, minimising the use of filters and chemicals. The system significantly preserves water quality.

The other award-winning project is an attempt to develop bio-cellulose textile fibres by repurposing beverage and fruit waste. Textiles fibres made from these sustainable raw materials have passed the laboratory tests of fibre strength and elongation, making less environmental impact comparing with cotton and wood-based fibres.

HKRITA continues to develop more projects that can benefit the industry and society, while driving the advancement of innovative technologies.

Acousweep collects microplastics by using sweeping acoustic waves

Dyed bio-cellulose textile fibres and yarns can be applied in textiles production