On 14 March 2026, Professor FEI Bin from the School of Fashion and Textiles (PolyU SFT) led MA students from the Sustainable Fashion and Innovation (SFI) programme joined to APLF Hong Kong (Asia Pacific Leather Fair Hong Kong).
As a global benchmark for the materials industry, this year’s APLF focused on “The Great Reset.” Through professional tours led by APLF officials, expert dialogues, and immersive workshops, students explored the operational logic, material characteristics, and sustainable vision within a real-world international trade context.
Guided Tradeshow Tour
Led by APLF officials, Karen CHEN, students toured the Materials+ zone, learning how it has evolved into a collaborative platform for fashion hardware, accessories, and high-performance components. They examined leather quality, grain characteristics, and tensile strength, gaining a clearer understanding of how material sourcing influences design expression and how leather serves as a sustainable natural by-product.
Understanding Leather & Sustainability
During the APLF 2026 Sustainability Conference, Alane Marder, Head of Sustainability at Simona Tanning, shared insights from a material science perspective, focusing on responsible production and environmental footprint reduction. The session covered leather’s physical properties, 2026 accessory trends, water-saving technologies, and bio-based chemical applications. Students recognised the industry’s technological shift and the importance of integrating material science into sustainable design practice.
Starting a Brand: From Concept to Reality
As a representative of “Emerging Commercial Power” invited by APLF 2026, Queenie Fan, Co-founder of Cafuné, shared her journey from student to entrepreneur, concretizing the “Design-led Business” concept from the official report. She explained how leather texture serves as the core of brand storytelling, aligning with APLF’s emphasis on balancing craftsmanship and market viability. Queenie’s sharing offered a valuable professional roadmap for students developing their future paths.
Leather Handicraft Workshop
Guided by The Hong Kong Hides & Leather Traders’ Association, students engaged in a session focusing on “Heritage & Craft,” a key pillar promoted by APLF 2026. The workshop highlighted traditional water-dyeing techniques enhanced with alcohol-based dying accelerants. This additive helps pigments penetrate leather rapidly and accelerates surface drying, enabling distinctive color gradients formed by the natural grain structure of hides. And students completed personalised keychains through precise cutting and refined edge polishing, where each procedure required rigorous patience and craftsmanship.
