Just Style: Congratulations on HKRITA’s success in the Just Style Excellence Awards. What does this recognition mean to you and the institute, and how does it reflect the progress HKRITA has made in advancing sustainability and innovation in the textile industry?
Jake Koh: This award is a testament to our dedication to research and development, which we believe enhances the quality of life. It inspires our team to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and helps us stay at the forefront of innovation in textiles, reinforcing our role in creating societal benefits and sustainability.
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Just Style: In what ways do you see HKRITA’s research and technology transfer efforts influencing the competitiveness of the Hong Kong and global textile sectors?
Jake Koh: Since our founding in 2006, HKRITA has supported the textile industry with cutting-edge technology, tackling critical industry needs. This year, leveraging our accumulated experience and networks, we have rallied our expert team to sharpen our focus and drive transformative change. We actively engage with industry partners to understand their needs, develop targeted technologies, and equip them for future challenges. With the growing emphasis on climate change and carbon reduction, the fashion and textile industry is no exception. In response, we have prioritised sustainable fashion and textiles. Our outstanding research team, with its diverse expertise, drives transformative impact through strategic research in five key pillars: Green Materials, Material Separation, Microplastics Solutions, Performance Textiles, AI Sorting and Related Technology—each aligning with industry challenges and needs.
HKRITA is a research institute, but we don’t limit ourselves to the lab. Building on years of experience, we have accelerated our market engagement this year, delivering commercially viable solutions that drive real change. Our extensive network of strategic partners across the supply chain, including manufacturers, brands, academia, and global organisations, ensures our technologies are scalable and meet market needs. This collaborative ecosystem bolsters Hong Kong’s leadership in sustainable and intelligent textiles while setting global standards, empowering our partners to adapt to future demands.
Just Style: The Open Lab has become a hub for industry collaboration. What have been the most significant outcomes from bringing together brands, manufacturers, and other stakeholders under one roof?
Jake Koh: The Open Lab at HKRITA is a dynamic platform where ideas are tested, refined, and translated into market-ready solutions. Our key outcomes include:
The Lab fosters cross-sector partnerships to drive the industry’s green transformation. Our recent collaborations with ISS Hong Kong and Redress exemplify how joint efforts can scale textile recycling technologies and turn sustainability goals into real-world impact.
By enabling co-development with stakeholders, the Open Lab significantly shortens the time from research to application. Stakeholders can provide immediate feedback, which supports faster prototyping and adoption—bringing innovations to market more efficiently.
Additionally, the Open Lab enhances innovation accessibility by lowering entry barriers for startups and SMEs to engage with cutting-edge R&D in production-like settings. It also cultivates next-generation talent, as seen in our inaugural Open Lab Global Challenge competition, where young innovators showcased solutions focused on durability, repairability, reusability, and recyclability.
The Open Lab is not just a physical space, it’s a collaborative platform for building trust, accelerating progress, and shaping the future of the industry. We have already welcomed approximately 1,500 guests since its launch in 2024.
Just Style: The upcycling of kombucha beverage waste into bacterial cellulose fibres and leather-like materials is a novel approach. What inspired HKRITA to explore this unconventional raw material?
Jake Koh: In HKRITA, we encourage our team to explore the unexplored. Green materials and processes are part of our research focus. In various projects, we have utilised natural-based materials for high-performance fashion and developed recycled options like nylon to reduce demand for virgin fibres. The upcycling of kombucha waste is another breakthrough. Our team developed a system to transform bacterial cellulose into fibres and leather-like materials. More impressively, the system uses reusable solvents and has no harmful chemicals, aligning with our mission of innovation and sustainability.
Just Style: How does HKRITA balance the need for advanced performance features with environmental considerations in fabric development?
Jake Koh: Our focus is on developing materials that offer comfort, such as quick-dry capabilities, while being eco-friendly. We choose bio-friendly materials like lyocell, cotton, and silk over petroleum-based options like polyester. The R&D process involves enhancing these natural materials to match the performance of traditional sportswear fabrics, so we have studied moisture management properties and crafted new yarn structures. The outcome is encouraging, as we have successfully developed prototypes. During the R&D process, industry partners provided valuable insights, ensuring our developments align with both performance and environmental standards.
Just Style: Can you discuss any recent examples where HKRITA’s technologies have been licenced or adopted at scale? And what strategies does HKRITA use to facilitate the transfer of research outcomes to industry partners and ensure successful commercialisation?
Jake Koh: The functional fabric project we have just talked about has led to a recent licensing deal with an international fibre producer, indicating the market’s readiness for eco-friendly yarns. At HKRITA, we engage industry partners to sponsor R&D projects, welcoming them to be part of the development process. This collaboration ensures the innovations meet market demands and are commercially viable. It’s a win-win; we achieve successful commercialisation, and partners gain the insights they need.
Just Style: In your view, what sets HKRITA apart from other research institutes in terms of delivering impactful solutions for the textile industry?
Jake Koh: Hong Kong has rich textile manufacturing and extensive industry connections, providing a unique advantage for HKRITA to stand out from other institutes. Our vision is to be the leading centre of excellence in R&D and technology transfer in the fashion and textile industry. By focusing on industry collaboration, we ensure our projects align with market needs, going beyond academic research. Our approach is to bridge the gap between innovative technology and practical application, enhancing our identity as an applied research institute.
Just Style: Looking ahead, what are the most pressing sustainability challenges HKRITA aims to address in the coming years? Also tell us how HKRITA is preparing for emerging trends such as digitalisation, circular economy, and changing consumer expectations in the textile sector.
Jake Koh: The needs of the industry are constantly evolving. This year, leveraging our extensive experience and networks, we have refined our approach to focus on five strategic pillars: Green Materials, Material Separation, Microplastic Solutions, Performance Textiles, AI Sorting and Related Technology. These pillars are designed to address critical challenges, such as advancing circularity, reducing textile waste, and enhancing recycling efficiency. For instance, our nylon separation technology represents a breakthrough in separating blended nylon textiles. Additionally, our AI-driven Smart Garment Sorting System enhances the efficiency of clothing recycling. These solutions, among others, are showcased in our Open Lab.
We invite industry partners to visit our Open Lab to collaboratively explore their most pressing needs. Events like our Innovation & Technology Symposium play a critical role in validating industry direction and guiding our development, ensuring our solutions remain impactful and aligned with both sustainability and performance goals. By staying attuned to trends in digitalisation, the circular economy, and evolving consumer expectations, we’re committed to driving transformative change in the textile sector.
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