Independent startup OneDay Tailor has won the championship at the Hong Kong Social Enterprise Challenge (HKSEC) 2025. Guided by Prof. Di Fan, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the venture represents a significant step forward in integrating academic research with sustainable fashion innovation.
From Research to Sustainable Innovation
The founder of OneDay Tailor, Ms Fion Lam was inspired by Prof. Fan’s 2024 Survey Report on Recycling Behavior of Hong Kong Consumers, which investigated consumer recycling behavior in the context of sustainable fashion. Recognizing the direct relevance of his research, the team sought Dr. Fan’s guidance and secured his support as their faculty advisor. This collaboration allowed the team to translate data-driven insights into a winning strategy that addresses the core challenges of garment longevity and textile waste.
The OneDay Tailor Story: Reclaiming the Craft
OneDay Tailor was born from the observation that while fashion and technology move fast, garment aftercare remains stuck in the past. Many consumers own pieces that no longer fit or have minor defects, yet they are often unsure of how to repair them. Traditionally, these time-honored services have been confined to neighborhood shops that can feel uninviting or outdated to modern shoppers. This disconnect leads to unnecessary disposal and sidelines the local women who carry the incredible craftsmanship of Hong Kong’s “golden age” of textiles.
Rooted in a 20-year family legacy, OneDay Tailor is reinventing this industry through the city’s first Online-Merge-Offline (OMO) model for alterations and repairs. By introducing digitalization, standardization, and modern branding, the platform makes these services seamless and reliable for fast-paced lifestyles. Beyond mere convenience, the model is designed to empower local artisans with professional recognition and flexible work opportunities.
Excellence in Social Entrepreneurship
Organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and sponsored by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the HKSEC has been a leading platform for youth-led enterprises since 2007.
After several rounds of rigorous competition, OneDay Tailor emerged as the Champion, receiving a HK$300,000 startup award to realize their vision. They also won the MTR Impact Award and the Semi-Final Best Presentation Award, recognizing their contribution to the sustainable fashion movement and their creative approach to the reuse of unwanted clothing.
Creating a Sustainable Future
The success of OneDay Tailor demonstrates how academic insights into consumer recycling can be translated into ventures that promote true circularity within the sustainable fashion ecosystem. By modernizing the repair and alteration process, the platform provides a tangible solution to the fast fashion crisis, encouraging consumers to extend the life of their garments rather than discarding them. This shift in behavior is a cornerstone of the sustainable fashion movement, proving that style and longevity can coexist.
This initiative does more than just fix clothes; it preserves the cultural heritage of Hong Kong’s traditional craftsmanship, ensuring these specialized skills are not lost to time but are instead repurposed for a modern, eco-conscious audience. By creating new possibilities for unwanted clothing through precision size adjustments, repairs, and creative upcycling, OneDay Tailor is building a future where sustainable fashion is the standard. Through this model, consumption becomes mindful, and the skilled hands of local women are finally given the spotlight they deserve.
Project Team
- Team Leader: LAM Yim Fong, Fion (HKU)
- Team Member: KWOK Chun Kit, Andy (HKU)
- Faculty Advisor: Prof. FAN Di (PolyU, School of Fashion and Textiles)
- Awards: HKSEC 2025 Champion, MTR Impact Award, Semi-Final Best Presentation Award
- Project Idea: https://hksec.hk/team-management/2025-oneday-tailor/
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