During my time at the Fashion InStyle Expo Hong Kong, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), I witnessed firsthand the growing influence of creative industries policies in driving meaningful international collaborations.
A key highlight was the partnership between the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Thailand Creative and Cultural Agency (THACCA), supported by ARACCA (Asia Regional Alliance of Cultural Centres and Agencies). This collaboration revealed how cultural heritage, creative industries policy and design innovation can converge to create new opportunities for sustainable development and circularity.
The Cultural Exchange Development Track focused on nurturing local design while promoting regional integration. This initiative aimed to build a recurring platform linking designers, artisans and innovators across Asia, embedding creativity, sustainability and cultural heritage at the heart of new fashion systems.
Importantly, the integration of cultural heritage technologies, from traditional craftsmanship to bio-fabricated materials, showed how circular fashion can become both materially responsible and culturally meaningful.
Visionary Projects from NEXT@Fashion InStyle
Several outstanding projects at NEXT@Fashion InStyle demonstrated how students are redefining sustainable design through material innovation, artisanal partnerships and advanced technology:
Arto Wong x Plant Fibres
Arto Wong explored natural fibres AlgaFila (seaweed fibre) and Lotuxilk (lotus silk), emphasising zero-waste design and low-impact production. Working closely with eco-tech suppliers Cobalt Fashion and Lotux International Holdings, she highlighted the potential of sustainable knitwear using renewable resources.
Jason Ying x Sustainable Denim
Graduating from Queensland University of Technology in Australia, Jason Ying is the co-founder of the brand NEVIDEBLA, meaning "invisible" and symbolising a boundless creative philosophy. Jason collaborated with Advance Denim to create military-inspired collections using biodegradable, water-saving cotton-linen blend denim. His designs merge exaggerated cuts and deconstructed aesthetics with sustainable innovation, incorporating Advance Denim's Blue Loop and BIGBOX technologies.
Johnson Chong x X-Pac® Materials
Johnson Chong integrated X-Pac® materials, (a high-performance, waterproof outdoor textile developed by Dimension-Polyant) into urban fashion, merging functionality and style. His work represents a fusion of outdoor technology with human-centred design for urban environments.
Kinyan Lam x Gambier Canton Silk
Kinyan Lam worked with artisans from the Foshan Lunjiao Gambier Canton Silk Association, preserving and modernising a Chinese national intangible cultural heritage. His collection applied traditional mud-dyeing techniques combined with modern flat cutting methods, showcasing a deep respect for craftsmanship and cultural preservation.
Toki Wong x AlgaFila
Toki Wong crafted playful, breathable menswear inspired by coastal living, using AlgaFila seaweed fibre provided by Cobalt Fashion. He championed affordability, climate resilience and material circularity, demonstrating how sustainable textiles can also deliver mainstream commercial appeal.
These visionary collaborations reflected sustainable materials innovation and the careful integration of cultural narratives, local craftsmanship and advanced material science.
Future for Circular Fashion through Policy-Led Collaborations
The Fashion InStyle parade illustrated how the value of circularity is amplified when it is tied to story, meaning and heritage. Many of the designers successfully reimagined traditional knowledge systems and local materials to meet global sustainability standards.
The plans for a rolling collaboration program, including a mini fashion week in December, suggest a powerful model for fostering long-term regional innovation. By investing in creative content, cultural exchange and ongoing collaboration, these initiatives show how policy can lead not only to industry growth but also to resilient, culturally-rich forms of innovation.
This approach aligns strongly with what I've been thinking through in relation to certification and storytelling. This collaboration provided me with a case study for how certifcation accompanied by connection between the product and the story, innovation and identity offer easily understood circular design outcomes. It is becoming clearer to me that futures for circular fashion will not be built by technology or policy alone but rather through creativity, community and culture, woven together through collaboration.
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My participation at the Fashion InSTYLE Expo was made possible by the kind support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and through the Australian Fashion Council
Professor Angelina Russo, PHD, MBAHEM
I am the Designer and Founder of Fleurieu Made. I was an academic for many years and a designer for more. I continue to write to make sense of the world in between knitting and building the business. Contact me at angelina@fleurieumade.com