The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel

What The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel does

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) is a non-profit research institute incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Hong Kong SAR, founded in 2006 and primarily funded by the Hong Kong government's Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC). The institute conducts applied R&D for the textile and apparel industry, with five stated research pillars covering sustainable materials, textile recycling, advanced manufacturing, and wearable technologies. HKRITA maintains three physical facilities: a Kowloon headquarters, a Tseung Kwan O 20,000 sq ft Open Lab R&D hub, and a Tseung Kwan O retail/showroom at The Mills hosting the Garment-to-Garment (G2G) Recycle System.

HKRITA's core technology portfolio includes the G2G Recycle System (an 8-step, waterless, chemical-free mini-mill inside a 40-foot container), Green Machine 2.0 (hydrothermal separation of PET-cotton blends), the AI-Powered Smart Garment Sorting System, Acousweep (microplastic fiber separation via acoustic waves), PET Fibre Decolouring, iAdapt Intelligent Soft Robotic Clothing, and bio-based materials such as fruit waste leather alternatives. The Open Lab, co-founded with the H&M Foundation, functions as a multi-stakeholder R&D platform with supporting organizations including C&A, Esquel, Crystal International, TAL Apparel, H&M Group, and Fashion for Good.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: government research funding and grants (the dominant source, channeled through multiple ITC programs), technology licensing to global industry partners (with discounts for project sponsors), tailor-made consultation services, and a tiered membership program (Corporate HK$1,000, Ordinary HK$300, Institution exempt). HKRITA's technology is offered for licensing internationally across sustainable fiber, manufacturing, performance finishing, wearable technology, and supply chain applications. The institute has accumulated 19+ international innovation awards from 2019 through 2026.

Name

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel

Legal name

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited

Website

https://hkrita.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HKRITA is a Hong Kong government-funded, non-profit applied research institute that develops sustainable textile recycling, material, and wearable technologies (including G2G, Green Machine 2.0, and iAdapt) and licenses them globally to fashion brands, manufacturers, and industry partners via the Open Lab platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile and Apparel R&D Services

NAICS

Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133), All Other Textile Product Mills (31499), Textile Product Mills (314)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Wastewater, Chemical & Dyehouse Sustainability Solutions (ZLD/Treatment/Chemical Substitution) (IMAOAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical & Hygiene Technical Textiles (Gauze/Drapes/Wipes/Barrier Fabrics) (IMAOADAD), Waste, Recycling & Circularity (On-site Programs) (BPABAAAL)

Keywords

• Textile recycling technology
• Sustainable apparel research
• Garment recycling systems
• Wearable textile innovation
• Fashion industry R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: HKRITA receives funding from government sources including the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) through programs such as the Innovation and Technology Fund, Public Sector Trial Scheme, Platform Research Program, Partnership Research Program, Seed Research Program, and Contract Research Program.
2. Licensing Services: HKRITA provides licensing of advance textile technologies to industry partners globally, ranging from sustainable fiber to manufacturing, performance finishing to wearable technology, supply chain to retailing. Sponsors of research projects enjoy discounts on license fees of project deliverables.
3. Consultation Services: Provides tailor-made professional consultations and strategies in sustainability and advancement technologies for product development, manufacturing and supply chain.
4. Membership Fees: HKRITA offers various membership types including Corporate Member (HK$1,000 registration fee), Ordinary Member (HK$300 registration fee), Institution Member (exempted), Student Member, and Affiliate Member for associations or trade organisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HKRITA is a Hong Kong-based research institute that conducts applied research and develops advanced technologies for the textile and apparel industry. It provides technology licensing, professional consultation services, and collaborative research programs covering sustainable fibers, recycling systems, performance finishing, wearable technology, and supply chain solutions to brands, retailers, and manufacturers globally.

Product overview

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) is a research institute focused on innovation for the textile and fashion industry to address climate change. The organization's portfolio includes the Garment-to-Garment (G2G) Recycle System, a compact 8-step recycling system in a 40-foot container that converts post-consumer garments into new yarn and knitwear without water or chemicals; Open Lab, a 20,000 sq ft R&D facility housing the Pilot Plant (Green Machine 2.0, AI Sorting, PET Decolouring, Acousweep) and Fashion Future Lab for early-stage solutions; iAdapt Intelligent Soft Robotic Clothing for adaptive thermal management; and specialized textile technologies including the Smart Garment Sorting System and various material processing innovations. HKRITA also conducts research into fruit waste-derived leather alternatives and customized medical textiles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Open Lab: A pioneering initiative by HKRITA and H&M Foundation - an innovative hub for the textile and fashion industry to address climate change, featuring a 20,000-square-foot physical R&D space.
• Garment-to-Garment (G2G)
• Planet First

Products and services

• Garment-to-Garment (G2G) Recycle System A compact, automated mini-scale production line that recycles post-consumer garments into new ones, configured in a 40-foot container with an 8-step waterless and chemical-free process including sanitization, opening, cleaning, carding, drawing, spinning, doubling/twisting, and knitting.
• Open Lab A 20,000-square-foot R&D innovation hub established in partnership with the H&M Foundation, featuring a Pilot Plant with industrial-scale textile recycling demonstration capabilities and a Fashion Future Lab for modular early-stage research.
• iAdapt: Intelligent Soft Robotic Clothing A novel soft robotic clothing system for personal thermal management that adaptively tunes heat and moisture transport properties through programmable inflation-deflation of embedded soft robotic skeletons.
• Green Machine 2.0 A hydrothermal separation technology that recycles PET-cotton blended post-consumer textiles by separating mixed fibers for reuse in textile manufacturing.
• AI-Powered Smart Garment Sorting System An automated garment sorting system that uses artificial intelligence and image analysis to identify fabric type, structure, material composition, and colour of post-consumer garments, enabling separation for resale or recycling.
• Acousweep A technology that collects and separates microplastic fibers from water sources generated from polyester fibers using sweeping acoustic waves.
• PET Fibre Decolouring A process that adsorbs dyes and removes colour from PET fibres using crosslinked polystyrene (PS) beads and activated carbon (AC) particles.
• Customized Comfort Bra for Mastectomy Recovery A novel mastectomy bra employing sophisticated ergonomic design and 3D material engineering to address different needs of breast cancer patients recovering from mastectomy, accommodating requirements related to age, BMI, and body shape.
• Technology Licensing Service Service that provides licensing of advanced textile technologies to industry partners globally, ranging from sustainable fiber to manufacturing, performance finishing, wearable technology, supply chain, and retailing solutions.
• Consultation Service Provides tailor-made professional consultations and strategies in sustainability and advancement technologies for product development, manufacturing, and supply chain to brands, retailers, and textile manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• G2G Phase II targets 40% manpower reduction through vision detection for fiber opening consistencies and automatic recirculation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• ISS Facility ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Through Open Lab partnerships with ISS Facility Services and Redress, the Lab processed over 1,200 polo shirts and received 750 kg of garments monthly since December 2024.
• RedresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Partnership through Open Lab with Redress for garment processing, contributing to textile waste reduction efforts.
• H&M FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerH&M Foundation is the Founding & Strategic Partner of Open Lab, a pioneering initiative co-founded with HKRITA as part of the Planet First programme. The partnership aims to drive sustainable development of the textile and fashion industry through collaborative R&D initiatives.
• C&AsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerC&A is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab, contributing to industry-wide sustainability initiatives.
• Crystal International GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrystal International Group is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab.
• Esquel GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEsquel Group is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab, contributing to sustainable textile innovation.
• Fashion for GoodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion for Good is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab, working towards sustainable fashion solutions.
• H&M GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerH&M Group is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab.
• TAL ApparelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAL Apparel is a Supporting Organisation of Open Lab.
• Novetex Textiles LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovetex Textiles Limited is listed as PROJECT SUPPORTED BY for G2G Recycle System development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Textile Research Institute (TRI Princeton): US-based textile and fiber research institute conducting fundamental and applied research for industry. Directly comparable to HKRITA's applied R&D and industry-partner-funded research model.
• Hohenstein Institute: A German textile research and testing institute offering applied R&D, certification, and laboratory services across performance, sustainability, and textile technology. Directly comparable to HKRITA as a non-profit applied textile research body serving global brands and manufacturers.
• DITF Denkendorf (German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research): Germany's largest textile research center, conducting applied R&D in fiber, textile, and process technologies. Closely comparable to HKRITA in mission, scale, and government/public co-funding model.
• Centexbel: Belgian scientific and technical research center for the textile industry, focused on sustainable and smart textile innovation. Comparable to HKRITA as a national textile R&D institute serving industry through collaborative projects.

Emerging players

• Worn Again Technologies: UK-based startup commercialising chemical recycling technology for polyester-cotton blended textiles. Comparable to HKRITA's Green Machine 2.0 hydrothermal separation work but with private capital and commercial scaling focus.
• Renewcell: Swedish company (Circulose) commercialising cellulose-based textile recycling at industrial scale. Comparable as a textile recycling technology developer, though more commercially advanced than HKRITA's pilot-stage work.
• Circ: US-based textile recycling startup using hydrothermal technology to separate polyester-cotton blends into reusable feedstocks. Directly comparable to HKRITA's Green Machine 2.0 hydrothermal separation research.

Regional players

• Esquel Group: Hong Kong-based vertically integrated cotton textile and apparel manufacturer and Open Lab supporting organisation. Comparable as a regional industry partner and stakeholder in HKRITA's research governance and adoption.
• TAL Apparel: Hong Kong-based global apparel manufacturer and Open Lab supporting organisation. Comparable as a Hong Kong-headquartered textile industry partner and potential licensee/adopter of HKRITA's manufacturing technologies.

Others

• Fashion for Good: Global sustainable fashion initiative and Open Lab supporting organisation, convening brands, manufacturers, and innovators. Comparable as an ecosystem platform partnering with HKRITA on industry-wide textile sustainability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGBxNx5f2Zks2pAXCpwdaHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/HongKongRITA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hkrita
• Instagraminstagram.com/hongkongrita

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel