Metamorphosis Of Hongkong Industrial Park: New Fashion Of Old Cotton Mill

Dark red "Nanfeng textile limited" signs, motley green paint walls, long sleepy ink textile machines, are silent about the history of Hongkong textile industry "golden age" story.

In 1970s, the textile industry in Hongkong was flourished. Its employment population reached 43% of the total employed population in Hong Kong. But after that, the manufacturing industry moved northward and many factories and workshops were vacant.

Hongkong Nanfeng textile factory, which has a history of 64 years, is no exception. After its announcement in 2008, its original plant turned into a warehouse. Among them, as the existing site of the local cotton mill - Nanfeng textile four to six plant lasted 4 years to complete the activation project, and will open at the end of the year.

Reporters recently visited, found that the buildings retain the original load-bearing column and most of the cement wall, ingenious integration into the original cotton mill iron gate, fire extinguishing "Taiping bucket" and other old objects, in the subtle display of the old factory bit.

Standing at the top of the office area that has been opened up and transformed into a business office, it can overlook the rooftop garden that has been designed and rebuilt through the modern glass curtain wall. Liang Wanling, director of marketing at Nanfeng cotton mill, said: "we keep the past and see the future from the past."

The active buildings occupy an area of about 24 thousand and 500 square meters, consisting of three large areas, Nanfeng workshop, six textile culture and Art Museum and experience retail store.

Among them, Nanfeng workshop set up breeding base, investment fund and workspace in one, aiming at Techstyle (Technology). fashion Start-ups have provided personalized pilot schemes, and 9 companies have been supported.

Lin Kaiming, co-founder of Unspun, a pioneer in making jeans by 3D scanning technology and special tailoring algorithm, told reporters that compared with other start-ups, the attitude is more open here, giving high degree of freedom to both enterprises in terms of machine hardware and site use.

The two floor flexible office zone with media studios, shared workspaces and shared conference rooms not only provides scarce office space for start-ups, but also creates opportunities for partners to create more connections, exchanges and exposure. And a lot of Clothes & Accessories The textile industry highly related enterprises gathered here, or will form the brand cluster effect here.

Chen Haoyang, CO director of Nanfeng workshop, told reporters that the textile industry had been a dominant industry in Hongkong, and that if new technology could be integrated into the new era, it would lead to a new type of industry. clothing The development of manufacturing industry.

He explained with the example of the technology enterprises in his residence, although all enterprises are related to the textile industry, the extension of the concept of "textile" and "fashion" has been greatly expanded, such as fashion logistics companies, intelligent textile furniture, and so on.

Through the new glass flyover, on the basis of the original site, decorated with metal and glass, it is the textile culture and art gallery. There are two lonely textile machines in the open factory building.

Liang Wanling said that since the size of the textile machine was huge, it had been placed before the renovation of the factory doors and windows. After that, more historical items related to textile art and design will be collected and displayed. The six factory will be officially opened in spring next year, which will be the first similar Art Center in Hongkong.

The Museum of art will also hold a multi-element learning program. The organizers hope that visitors will feel the spirit of innovation in Hongkong's textile industry through these projects. Among them, "summer hand work: to build textile village", summer learning activities will be launched in July 28th, and a number of activities such as workshops, artist auditorium, film screening and sharing and interactive experience will be launched.

In addition to the participation of internationally renowned artists and local textile creators, the public is invited to build a unique "textile village". Lu Leqian, a community curator and co curator of the six factory foundation, said he hoped to bring the concept and attitude of "not only professionals to participate in art activities" to the general public, and encourage more people to join in the art creation and learning experience.