The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has launched the Green Innotextile Base (GIB) in Shanghai, marking a significant move to boost sustainable innovation and technology sharing in the textile sector. The launch took place on World Environment Day 2025 during the Innostech 2025 Shanghai-Hong Kong Seminar, in partnership with the Pudong New Force Incubator and the Pudong-Hong Kong Institute for Technology Transfer and Innovation.

Strategically located in the Yangtze River Delta region, the GIB is focused on advancing eco-friendly technologies, promoting circular economy models, and exploring new textile materials. It also supports the use of artificial intelligence in fashion production. In addition, the base will help set technical standards, offer certification services, and support the smooth transfer of technology to industry.

HKRITA Chairman Teresa Yang shared that the GIB aims to blend sustainability with smart manufacturing and collaborative innovation. She stressed that the initiative will bring together experts from industry, research, and academia to help the textile industry grow while making a positive environmental and economic impact.

As part of the launch, HKRITA also announced a partnership with NeoRita Sustainable Technologies (Shanghai) Ltd to apply their unique bacterial cellulose transformation technology in making sustainable vegan leather. This collaboration highlights HKRITA’s focus on turning green innovations into real-world, market-ready products.