Jointly presented by the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) and the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao, and promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, two exhibitions explore the past, present, and future of textile innovation, weaving a cross-cultural conversation between Eastern and Western textile legacies, honouring tradition while envisioning the future. Both exhibitions run at the Gallery, 1/F, DX design hub from 25 October to 26 November 2025.

 

'FABRICa: Italian Textile Style and Innovation' offers an extraordinary journey through the artistry of Italian textile manufacturing. Conceived by CMS. Cultura, designed by architect Corrado Anselmi, and curated by Giulia Fortunato, ‘FABRICa’ unfolds across six immersive modules that trace centuries of textile history while showcasing innovations shaping tomorrow.

 

In dialogue with this rich heritage, 'Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures' demonstrates how Hong Kong's textile industry is forging its own path forward, drawing on local craft traditions and the collaborative potential of the Greater Bay Area.

 

FABRICa: Weaving Italy's Textile Legacy Through Time

 

From fashion and home furnishings to climate-resilient cloth, the exhibition celebrates the diversity and richness of 'Made in Italy' textiles. The journey begins with the pivotal role of wool production and trade in the development of Florence, the intensive planting of mulberry trees to support silk manufacturing in Sforza-era Lombardy, and the splendour of Venetian satins and velvets. It then moves forward to technical fabrics and yarns engineered for performance and sustainability, culminating in cutting-edge discoveries from industrial research.

 

Visitors are invited to experience the sumptuousness of fabric through tactile displays of precious hanging textiles, immersive video installations, and a sitting area crafted from recycled materials - highlighting Italian ingenuity in transforming natural and waste resources into advanced textile products.

 

From ancient looms to cutting-edge research labs, 'FABRICa' reveals the evolution of Italy's textile tradition, blending heritage with innovation and sustainability. Visitors are able to gain profound insights that Italian textiles are far more than materials; they embody an enduring legacy that continues to shape Italy's global identity and serves as a cultural bridge, inspiring and connecting people worldwide.

 

Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures

 

While ‘FABRICa’ celebrates Italy's centuries-old textile mastery, 'Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures' offers a compelling counterpoint, showcasing how Hong Kong is reimagining its own textile future through engineered craft and regional collaboration.

 

Curated by Elaine Yan Ling Ng of The Fabrick Lab, a Hong Kong-based studio, the exhibition demonstrates how the city's rich textile legacy can shape a renewed creative identity. Once a global hub for fabric and knitwear, Hong Kong now looks ahead to a future where it leads again in textile creativity, vision, and cosmopolitan collaboration.

 

Marking The Fabrick Lab's 10th anniversary, the showcase centres on Reverie, the studio's groundbreaking collection of luxury knitted textiles, marrying traditional techniques with technological precision. The exhibition brings this concept to life through collaborations that merge design, sustainability, and artistry. Hong Kong's renowned furniture house NUOVO brings together furniture design and textiles, reupholstering vintage Italian pieces with Reverie fabrics to create sustainable luxury while fostering dialogue with Italy's textile industry. Fashion and interior designer Katerin Theys transforms Reverie fabrics into Reverie Skin, sculptural wearable art that bridges fabric and form, proving how textiles transcend traditional boundaries.

 

The exhibition draws on the expertise of local upholstery workshops, which have opened their archives and shared their skills to apply fashion tailoring techniques to complex curves and seamlines. Together, these contributions celebrate Hong Kong's craft heritage and demonstrate the city's unique advantage of being at the intersection of old and new, part of a global trade hub where traditional methods meet technological innovation. The exhibition proposes a new model in which designers, artisans, and international brands forge lasting partnerships to position Hong Kong as a hub of originality and high-end textile craftsmanship in Asia.

Exhibition Period: 25 Oct to 26 Nov 2025

Opening Hours: 11:00 –19:00 (Closed Tuesdays, except Public Holidays)

Venue: The Gallery, 1/F, DX design hub, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po