Jesse holds a MA in Menswear from the University of Westminster (London, UK) and a degree in Fashion from Kingston University (UK). In 2022, Jesse won the International Talent Support Contest (ITS) Sportswear Award powered by Lotto Sport. Jesse was awarded the Redress Design Award 2020 All Star accolade for his collaboration with The R Collective and Levi’s® for the ‘Denim Reimagined’ collection. He won the Redress Design Award 2018 Second Prize Mentorship with Orsola de Castro as well as the Hong Kong Best Prize the same year.

Rod Henderson is the President of Concept2, one of the business units of TAL Apparel. Concept2 specialises in Casual and Lifestyle apparel, working with many well-known brands and retailers across the USA and Europe. Rod is part of the TAL leadership team which has successfully transformed TAL’s structure establishing the business unit focus. Previously, Rod has held senior roles in manufacturing, sourcing, and retail, working across various apparel sectors with both Hong Kong and UK companies. Rod has been living in Hong Kong for the past 13 years since moving from the UK.

With 30 years of experience in the global leather industry, Francis Tsang has witnessed significant technological advancements over the past five years. He has transitioned from traditional chrome tanning methods to innovative chrome-free and heavy metal-free tanning systems. These developments have greatly reduced water and chemical usage while addressing the issues of heavy metals and chromium VI, thereby minimizing environmental pollution.

Recently, Francis has focused on ethically sourcing Tibetan domestic raw yak hides, aiming to support Tibetan herder and farmer families and ensure that no hides go to waste. His commitment to sustainability and ethical practices reflects his dedication to transforming the leather industry for the better.

Hoiki Liu is a Hong Kong-born entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable fashion and ethical business practices. Her journey in the business world began after receiving her education from both local and international schools in Hong Kong and pursuing further studies in Canada during her high school and university years.

After her early career led her into the family garment manufacturing business, Nice Tones Ltd., founded by her father, Davy Liu, in 1992, she expanded the family’s ventures by establishing Skyrex International Ltd. in 2009. This new venture focused on partnering with factories in various garment categories, showcasing her entrepreneurial acumen and commitment to business growth.

Hoiki’s personal life took a significant turn as she got married and became a mother to two boys. This transformative experience fueled her dedication to living consciously and sustainably. She adopted eco-friendly practices in both her personal life and business endeavors, promoting a lifestyle focused on reducing single-use plastics and embracing sustainability in all aspects.

Driven by her passion for sustainability, Hoiki launched Anthora Collection in 2024, a women’s wear capsule line that embodies timeless fashion and eco-conscious principles. Anthora Collection sources deadstock materials, prioritizes plastic-free packaging, and incorporates natural or recycled accessories, setting a new standard for sustainable fashion in the industry.

Beyond her business endeavors, Hoiki values work-life balance and community engagement. She shares her expertise in sustainability and entrepreneurship through her sustainable journal, open table discussions, and educational presentations. She also engages in charitable initiatives with her family, including beach clean-ups and food distribution efforts, instilling values of environmental and social responsibility in her children and the community.

Jane is an experienced professional with an international background in the fashion industry, specializing in sustainable and circular fashion. She has worked in Denmark, Italy, Germany, and the USA, bringing a well-rounded, global perspective to her work. Jane holds a Bachelor of Fashion Design and a Master’s in Fashion Styling from Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy. Her expertise spans technical skills like pattern making, high-end tailoring, and costume design, as well as creative disciplines such as fashion styling, graphic design, and brand communication.

For the past eight years, Jane has been a lecturer at leading fashion universities in Milan, sharing her expertise and passion for sustainability with future industry professionals.

Throughout her career, Jane has held various roles across different types of organizations. As an independent contractor, she has shown versatility and innovation. She has also worked in large multinationals like ONLY (Bestseller Group), gaining valuable experience in global operations.

Additionally, Jane has collaborated with prominent artistic institutions like the Houston Ballet. Her dedication to sustainable fashion drives her efforts to promote environmentally responsible practices and foster innovation for a more sustainable future in the fashion industry.

Angelica has over a decade of experience in foreign direct investment. Her current focus is on facilitating investment from companies in retail or sourcing of toys, cosmetics, jewelry, home furnishings, fashion, electronic appliances and most recently extending to retail technology. Since 2013, the Consumer Products team has assisted over 400 companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining InvestHK, Angelica’s career experience spanned aviation, strategic design consultancy and market research for fast moving consumer goods. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Kenneth Au is the Chief Technology Officer of StyleSpace AI, an AI solutions company and an incubatee of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP), focused on transforming the fashion retail industry. With over 8 years of experience in artificial intelligence research, Kenneth has been at the forefront of applying AI to fashion. He conducted extensive research in AI during his MPhil studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, laying the groundwork for his innovative work in AI-driven fashion solutions.

At StyleSpace AI, Kenneth leads the development of technologies, including 3D body measurement systems for precise sizing, diffusion-based virtual try-on solutions that enable customers to visualize garments with just a photo, and AI-powered fashion image stylists driven by large language models. His vision bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI and its practical applications in retail, helping brands enhance customer experiences and optimize operations.

Kenneth’s unique combination of technical expertise and market insight enables StyleSpace AI to deliver solutions that empower fashion brands to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. His work is driving the AI revolution in fashion, expanding what technology can achieve for retailers and customers.

Alfie is COO and operation partner of Style3D, an expert in fashion technology especially for AI, 3D, metaverse & RFID. Previously, he has served in senior level management in various MNC such as Avery Dennison & Siemens, he has expertise to help MNC to land biz in China, and help China startup to go international. Alfie owns master degree in CUHK, and E.E. in Wuhan University.

Mr. Paul Tai is currently the Regional Director – Far East of Mainetti Group, a leading global retail packaging supplier.  He has managed to grow the company from a start-up to a regional company with more than ten operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Australia and Indian subcontinents.

As his service to the community, Paul leads and sponsors various corporate social responsibility projects in Asia.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry and society, Paul received the Hong Kong Young Industrialist Award in 2012 for his contributions to the industry and the community. He was elected president of the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council for the 2021/22 term. In 2023, Paul was awarded the VTC Honorary Fellowship in honor of his contributions to vocational and professional training for the young generation.

Paul is a chartered accountant in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, with an MBA from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.  He is also acting as the independent non-executive directors of two listed companies in Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Brian Luo is the Product Director of Guangdong Quaternion Technology Ltd., a subsidiary of the Tessellation Group, specializing in providing Smart Manufacturing automation and digital solutions for the textile manufacturing industry.

Brian holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology from City University of Hong Kong, and a Master’s degree in Applied Data Science from The University of Michigan, USA.

Esterina Nervino is Assistant Professor at the City University of Hong Kong, jointly appointed in the Department of English and the Department of Marketing, for which she is the co-director of the New Frontiers in Professional Communication Lab (NFPC) and Associate Director of the Sales and Marketing Consulting Unit (SMCU) respectively. She is also Cultore della Materia at the Department of Studies on Language and Culture of the Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy), invited External Member of the Research Centre for Professional Communication in English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, executive committee member and outreach officer of the Asia-Pacific LSP& Professional Communication Association, and core member of the Communicating Sustainabilities network. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and her research interests include social semiotics, multimodality, corpus linguistics, sustainability discourse, digital media, cultural development and city brand, professional communication across sectors, including luxury, arts, and finance.

Prior to CityU, Esterina was the Director of Retail in Asia (part of Bluebell Group) in charge of media brand operations including content selection, curation, edition, and commercial strategy. At Bluebell Group she also took on the additional role of Public Relations Lead.

Fanny Serouart is a Paris-based object designer trained at École Boulle and ENSCI. Since 2020, she has worked independently as a design consultant and CMF expert (Color, Material, Finish) across industries, from automotive to luxury. In 2022, she launched LÉCLISSE, an accessory brand creating “objets-à-porter” that merge leatherwork with vernacular materials and techniques, drawing inspiration from the history of design. Her dual experience in arts & crafts and large-scale industry brings a unique perspective, combining material integrity with cultural heritage. Featured in Emily in Paris, the brand is now expanding into the Asia-Pacific and American markets.

Joanne Yip, a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), holds a BSc (Hons) in Textile Technology (with first class Honors) and a PhD from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on Low Temperature Plasma and Excimer Laser Treatments on Polyamide. Before joining PolyU, she worked as a visiting researcher at Rice University in the US, conducting instrumental experiments. Prof. Yip has published over 100 papers in Textile and Material Science Journals. She also has industry experience, having worked in the intimate apparel sector where she gained extensive knowledge of materials, quality requirements, and production techniques. Currently, she serves as Associate Dean and Professor at PolyU, teaching courses on intimate apparel and activewear. Her research interests include functional garments for scoliosis, new materials and technology, surface treatments on textiles, and moulding or seamless techniques used in intimate apparel and activewear.

Prof. Li Li is a Professor in the Division of Integrative Systems and Design of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Fellow of Royal Society of Arts. Prof. Li’s research interests include design thinking, advanced manufacturing, fiber composite materials, structure-based soft matter, and art. Her research has expanded the potential of fibers, a distinctively soft material, beyond their traditional applications into a versatile and powerful interdisciplinary tool benefitting designers and researchers across various disciplines. The design engineering of fibers enables tactile qualities that can evoke emotions and storytelling, allowing immersive and interactive experiences. Thus, revolutionize the creative industry, drive commercial success, and unlock new opportunities for different sectors. Her adoption of design thinking has also provided opportunities to experiment and innovate in areas such as smart technology, material science, and sustainable design, and has found practical value for the domains of design, healthcare, agriculture, archaeology, electronics and life style etc. Furthermore, her research has had successful industrialization and commercialization outcomes on an international scale.

Le Ngoc-Ha Thu is an award-winning Vietnamese fashion designer who uses in-depth logical analysis and creative thinking to offer innovative design solutions. An observant, vigorous intellect with unhindered imagination, she has the talent for rendering visible abstract concepts into tasteful designs with nuance and subtlety.  In 2020, Thu participated in the Redress Design Award and was the first Vietnamese winner of the competition. Later, she became the representative of Redress in Vietnam and was part of the judging panel for the TAL Mini-challenge in the years 2021 and 2024.

From 2021 to 2024, Thu founded and operated her sustainable menswear label, and showcased her collections in Hong Kong FW and Shenzhen FW, along with other Redress alumni. She was also a public speaker, expert, and educator on sustainable design, making multiple appearances on national television and press to speak on the apparel industry and advocate for circularity in fashion.

Her scope of work extends beyond sustainable fashion: in 2024, Thu cofounded XAVAN Inc. – a design consulting firm that focuses on Vietnamese local systems. Heading for lasting changes, XAVAN Inc. explores, connects, and facilitates Vietnam’s incredible wealth in culture and people.

Stephen has years of experience in brand management and business development. As the head of several brands, Stephen has collaborated with various local artists. These collaborations not only enriched his business perspective but also deepened his understanding of local culture.

As the Business Development Director at #CCCCCc Se/ect, Stephen combines his expertise with a creative passion to drive business growth and optimize customer experience. He excels in developing and executing strategies aimed at integrating Hong Kong’s unique culture into daily life, enhancing the shopping experience for customers, and promoting the sustainable growth of local brands.

Yidi Chen is the Founder and Creative Director of MATTTER, a platform accelerating the vertical application of next-generation material innovations. Prior to founding MATTTER, Yidi’s background was in fashion media, where she curated creative content for NOWNESS, IDEAT, Wallpaper, yehyehyeh, and others, with a focus on culture and sustainability. Her extensive portfolio includes collaborations with brands such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, among others.

Natacha has a multi-cultural background of Cambodian-Chinese borne in Hong Kong; raised in London, currently based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She is a graduate of London College of Fashion.

Since debuting her Ready-to-Wear Collection in 2010, Natacha has been dedicated to making clothes that were as beautifully crafted from inside out. With the focus on couture quality craftsmanship, the materials used for her collection are 100% handcrafted in London / Hong Kong using the highest quality materials and construction, and manufactured by master tailors by hand in Cambodia .
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Her collection is sold around the world. Her dresses are presently at many major world fashion week, exhibitions and fashion show, including New York 2019; London 2019 & 2017; Paris 2019, 2018 & 2017; Milan 2020, among others.

In 2017, she was appointed as “Ambassador of Cambodia”, joining London and Paris Fashion show at the invitation of His Excellency Pan Sorasak, the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia to represent the Kingdom of Cambodia.