Hong Kong Design Institute
Nottingham Trent University and the Hong Kong Design Institute’s longstanding partnership is driving sustainability and global success in the fashion design industry, with alumni achieving remarkable success in competitions.
Chung Tsz Ho (middle) at HKYDC 2024
Since 2006, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has partnered with the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) to deliver two NTU one-year top-up courses: BA (Hons) International Fashion Business and BA (Hons) Fashion Design. This longstanding relationship with NTU’s School of Art and Design allows HKDI students to complete a two-year diploma at HKDI before joining the top-up course for a UK degree, studied in Hong Kong, with an option to progress to a Master’s degree in the UK. The partnership agreement was renewed in September 2023, extending the collaboration for another five years.
In response to the evolving demands of the fashion industry, the NTU-HKDI partnership has placed sustainability at the core of the curriculum. Students on the programme receive education in sustainable practices, highly relevant to the industry’s shift towards responsible fashion production and consumption.
NTU and HKDI’s alumni from these courses have gone on to secure prominent positions in the fashion industry, with graduates landing jobs at top companies such as Martin Margiela, Loewe, Bazaar Magazine, and Shanghai Tang. Their achievements reflect the high quality of education and training provided through the partnership.
Chung Ka Ching (left) at the Redress Design Award 2024
In September 2024, three NTU alumni and current students were selected as finalists in the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (HKYDC). Notably, Chung Tsz Ho, who graduated in 2022, won the Champion Award. Current student Delia Tsoi and recent graduate Nick Cheung were also recognised as finalists. Another recent success is that of NTU-HKDI alumna Chung Ka Ching, who won the Hong Kong Best award at the Redress Design Award 2024, a highly regarded sustainable fashion design competition that encourages emerging designers to adopt circular fashion practices.
Another example of successful collaboration is the SPARK III: Healthy Future 2024 event organised by the British Council, which explored health and well-being through fashion.
The event featured alumni from the BA (Hons) Fashion Design programme who had graduated within the last five years. These alumni showcased their unique approaches to celebrating well-being through fashion, with themes including Healing, Culture, Outdoor, Self-Love, Organic, and Play. The event included an exhibition of physical and digital work from both BA and MA students at the new Airside venue. NTU and HKDI staff and students also had the opportunity to participate in talks and presentations, both live and online.
The NTU-HKDI partnership has cultivated a distinctive environment for aspiring fashion professionals, combining UK and Hong Kong-based education with a focus on sustainability, digital proficiency, and global collaboration. With the recent renewal of the agreement, this partnership is set to further empower students and drive positive change in the fashion industry.