PolyU fashion design graduates shines at Fashion Show 2021 in Campus – Creative responses to the “New Normal”

HONG KONG SAR
– Media OutReach – 27
August 2021 – The Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) staged the PolyU Fashion Show 2021
Award Ceremony on August 27 at the PolyU Alumni Atrium . In response to the pandemic, this year’s fashion
show integrates online video broadcast and mini catwalk show at PolyU campus as
a runway stage, to reveal students’ talents in a unique platform. Thirty show
finalists have overcome multiple challenges during the pandemic, showcased
their outstanding creations to the industrialists, fashion designers and
fashionistas from all over the world, and competed for ten awards and
scholarships.

The winner of
the Overall Grand Award was Lee Pui Kwan, Cady. Her awarded design was titled “Emotion:
The Shift Of The Self”. She was also the winner of Chamberlain Most Promising
Idea Award, Scholarship of Creativity, and Lilian Kan Creativity Scholarship
(see the Appendix for the list of awardees). Under the special circumstances
this year, Cady gained valuable experience throughout her design development process.  “It took me some time to adapt to
the online design lessons at the beginning. In light of the shifted class
delivery mode, the schedule is more flexible and it allows me to have an
in-depth exploration about my creation and define goals clearly. “Cady
recalled. “Although it is unfortunate that the graduation show cannot be held on
a large scale as before, I still look forward to showcasing my works in this
new hybrid mode and interacting with more audiences,” said Cady.

The judging
panel was comprised of well-known fashion designers and seasoned practitioners
of the fashion industry. They included: Ms Janet CHEUNG, Vice-Chairman, Hong
Kong Fashion Designers Association; Ms Lu Lu CHEUNG, Creative Director, Rolls
Group Limited; Mr Anthony KEUNG, President and C.E.O., Fenix Group Holdings
Ltd; and Mr Walter MA, Director, Walter Ma & Co. Ltd.

The Show was
officiated by Prof. WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost (DP) of PolyU,
Prof. WONG Wai-yeung, Dean of PolyU’s Faculty of Applied Science and Prof. FAN
Jin-tu, Chair Professor of Fiber Science & Apparel Engineering and Head of
Institute of Textiles and Clothing, PolyU. Prof. FAN said, “This year, ITC has shown
our prescience in response to the “New Normal” under the epidemic. Instead of organising
the fashion show in a conventional way, we utilized PolyU campus as a runway stage
for the catwalk models, to showcase our finalists’ designs through a creative
journey in the exclusive online video. It breaks through the social,
geographical and time constraints of the physical showcases. This is also a
telling testament of the resilience of our students, which has inspired them to
transform their experience into creative thinking, and to present the local
designs from multiple perspectives on this interactive fashion stage. ”

Appendix

PolyU Fashion Show 2021 –
List of awardees