Open Lab – enabling collaboration and research
We want to talk less and do more. Together with our partner The Hong Kong Research Institute for Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), we thought we needed a place where the entire value chain of the fashion and textiles industry could come together to collaborate, prototype new technologies and scale the outcomes. Welcome to the Open Lab.
The Open Lab is part of the Planet First programme, the second collaboration programme between The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and H&M Foundation. Planet First aims to accelerate the sustainable development of the textile and fashion industry by developing technologies that can be piloted and scaled.
Instead of keeping research confined to closed laboratories until the solution is complete, the Open Lab’s mission is to showcase beta solutions and ongoing research to industry stakeholders to receive immediate feedback, adjust, iterate, pilot, and scale faster.
The Open Lab focuses on three core areas:
- Contribute to problem-solving
- Showcasing innovative solutions
- Providing a platform for industry-wide collaboration
The physical space is divided into the Pilot Plant and Fashion Future Lab:
Pilot Plant – focused on industrial-scale demonstrations and trials of technologies to inspire and encourage the industry to adopt similar practices.
Fashion Future Lab – focused on early-stage innovations with a modular research space that allows for quick adaptation and scaling of new solutions.
Collaboration is key
Think of the Open Lab as a kitchen, not a dining room. This means our goal isn’t to invite stakeholders to a set table with a ready menu but to have everyone join in to create the dish together.
By connecting stakeholders from across the value chain – manufacturers, brands, and innovators – we aim to co-create and test sustainable solutions that address diverse needs and drive faster outcomes.
The Open Lab is supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Hong Kong government, fashion and textile partners such as C&A, Crystal, Esquel, Fashion for Good, GAP, H&M Group, Novetex, Puma, Redress, and TAL Apparel, as well as partners in other industries such as Cathay Pacific, Swire Coca-Cola, Swire Pacific, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, and The Peninsula.
Open to anyone
The Open Lab primarily operates as a business-to-business platform, addressing the needs of textile users from a business perspective. Yet the Open lab also welcomes public participation in its activities. HKRITA will organise regular visits, collaborate with interested parties to conduct trials, and host sharing sessions, workshops, and conferences to disseminate research findings. The Open Lab will also initiate a residency programme to support startups with know-how and testing facilities.
Industry stakeholders interested in collaborating can join the Open Lab through several pathways, including partnership agreements, participation in specific research projects, or joining our residency program for startups.
For more information and to plan your visit, please go to the Open Lab website.
Project time period
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For more information, please contact HKRITA hkrita.com/theopenlab.
