Hong Kong Design Institute Connects Students with the Denim Industry
Hong Kong Design Institute is bringing denim culture and education to the next generation. The school is hosting a year-long weekly event, dubbed Denim Fridays. This series kicked off June 22 and will run through March 23, 2023.
Activations will range from talks, exhibitions and photo competitions to workshops, dancing and busking. Helping to bring these activities to life are industry partners, such as Advance Denim, Crystal Group, Fashionary and more.
The first industry partner to participate was Levi Strauss, which hosted a talk, workshop and exhibition on its iconic 501 jeans for the series’ opening ceremony on June 24. The showcase was tied into Levi’s Hong Kong’s collaboration with the unofficial Levis Vintage Clothing fan page on Facebook for the 501 Rigid Denim Challenge. Launched in 2020, the challenge asks participants to make their vintage Levi’s their own naturally through wear—creating creases and folds. Ten of the winning jeans were on display until July 8.
A talk from Levi’s also delved into the story of the 501s, exploring what makes these jeans unique.
Other activities during the opening were a Dance Jam in Denim, in which professional street dancers performed and engaged with students. There was also music from buskers Hanz, Jayden and Oscar.
Attendees who wore denim could redeem a tote bag from a screen print workshop.
This series will continue each Friday with more activations to come. As part of Denim Fridays, HDKI is exploring a possible “Sustainable Fiber Materials” talk and denim workshop in partnership with Lenzing.
Check out the slideshow below for a look at the opening festivities.
