The College of Human Ecology’s Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design (FSAD) hosted Kinor Jiang, professor of textiles at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as the 2018 FSAD Designer in Residence.

On campus as part of the four-week residence, Jiang exhibited some of his creative work in a gallery opening, “Surface Design in Fashion,” and delivered a public lecture “Coating Processes Towards Sustainable Textile and Fashion,” on coating techniques in sustainable textiles and fashion. He also interacted with FSAD students and faculty, gave guest lectures in classes, and provided advice and critiqued student work.

“Kinor Jiang is an internationally acclaimed fashion and textile surface designer,” said Jintu Fan, the Vincent V.C. Woo Professor in Fiber Science and Apparel Design and director of the Cornell Institute of Fashion and Fiber Innovation. “His work explores the frontier of surface design by integrating contemporary Asian arts with advanced fashion and textile technologies. He is particularly known for his extraordinary metallic textiles.”

The residency aims to create an environment for the exchange of forward- thinking and creative ideas around fashion design and fiber science, Fan said.

Jiang’s design research deals with textile effects using physical and chemical treatment technologies. He is renowned internationally for his development of metallizing technology for functional and decorative textiles.

Jiang developed a novel metallizing machine for high-performance metallic textile production. “Metals, alloys and metal oxides are used to coat textiles which create captivating painted hues on the textile surface,” he said. “The technology is an environmentally-friendly approach for textile dyeing and finishing which applies dry coatings under an anhydrous condition.”

“I have dreamed to come here for many years – Cornell is a famous university and [the FSAD Department] has talented faculty and top students,” Jiang said. “I want to show my ideas and concepts and exchange ideas with both faculty and students. Based on this interactive program, I can learn from my time here, and they can learn from me.”