Dr Zhimin Chen

Senior Lecturer (Fashion Business)

Dr Zhimin Chen

Senior Lecturer (Fashion Business)

Email: t.chen@mmu.ac.uk

Telephone: 0161 247 2667

Biography Research Office

I graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University majoring in Fashion Design and Clothing Technology in 1992, having been funded by a Scholarship from the Glorious Sun Group Hong Kong. I became a Senior Lecturer in International Fashion Business in 2004. My specialist area of expertise is in Fashion Supply Chain Management, a subject in which I have conducted research and published papers internationally.

I have supervised five PhD students to completion and two Masters by Research completion. I am active in both academic research and academic enterprise and have contributed four research outputs into the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008. I have also submitted four research outputs for MMU internal considerations in the Research Excellent Framework (REF) 2013 and four research ouputs for MMU internal consideration MFI Pre-REF 2020.

Academic and professional qualifications

Academic Qualifications:

PGCAP (With Merit) – Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), June, 2016.

PhD – “Quality Management in International Fashion Clothing Supply Chains between Great Britain and China”, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), March, 2005.

MSc Clothing (Marketing & Distribution) – “An Investigation into the Ergonomic Factors Involved in the Sewing Workstation Design and its Relationship to Operator Body Size”, Manchester Metropolitan University, October, 1999.

Professional Qualifications:

Chartered Member of the Textile Institute, Manchester, UK – CText ATI, June, 2000
Fellow of Higher Education Academy, UK – FHEA, June, 2016

Previous Employment

After my graduation from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I returned to the fashion industry, and was appointed as Deputy Manager of the Quality Control Department by the Advancetex Garment Manufactory (Huizhou) Ltd., part of the Glorious Sun Group Hong Kong, and engaging the Company's project to establish the ISO 9002 Quality Assurance System. In 1993, I began lecturing at the Northwest Institute of Textile Science and Technology (NT) Guangdong Garment Institute, specialising in Garment Technology, Pattern Design & Technology and Quality Management.

Before beginning my academic career at MMU. I have previously worked in the fashion industry both in China and Hong Kong as Pattern and Sample Maker, Aassistant Merchandiser, Senior Merchandiser and Assistant Manager of Production Department.

Languages

I speak and write fluent Mandarin (Pu Tong Hua), Cantonese, Hakka and English.

Undergraduate teaching

  • BBSc (Hons) Fashion Marketing
  • BSc (Hons) Fashion Business and Management
  • BSc (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising
  • BSc (Hons) - International Fashion Marketing 
  • BSc (Hons) - Fashion Buying for Retail
  • BA (Hons) - Fashion Design and Technology
  • BA (Hons) - Clothing Design and Technology
  • BSc (Hons) - International Clothing Technology and Design
  • BSc (Hons) - Textile Technology for Fashion
  • BA (Hons) - International Fashion Practice

Postgraduate teaching

  • Organisation Unit
  • Global Supply Chain Management Unit
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Practices Unit
  • International Fashion Business and Emerging Markets

Postgraduate research supervision

I am an experienced supervisor for taught Postgraduate supervision and Postgraduate research degrees.

Research Degrees Supervision Experience (Completed):

I have 5 PhD Completions with theses’ Titles - 

1) Fashion Brand Creation in China (Chief Supervisor/Director of Study)

2) Development of a Sizing System for Ghanaian Women for the Production of Ready-to-Wear Clothing (Supervisor). Project was fully funded by the Ghanaian Government.

3) Development of a Conceptual Model for Anthropometric Practices and Applications Regarding Complete Garment technologies for the UK Women’s Knitwear Industry (Supervisor). Project was fully funded by MMU.

4) Human-Focused Quality Management (HFQM) Framework towards performance excellent for Malaysian Ready-To-Wear Garment Industry (Chief Supervisor/Director of Study). Project was fully funded by the Malaysian Government.

5) An Investigation of the Perceived Value of Luxury Fashion Brand Consumption in the UAE and the UK. (Supervisor)

2 Masters by Research Completions with thesis title -

1) An Evaluation of Base Layer Compression Garments for Sportswear” (Supervisor). Project was fully funded by MMU.

2) The collaborative buyer and supplier relationship (BSR) applied to the product development stage in the contemporary UK fast fashion and rapid fashion market (Chief Supervisor/Director of Study).  Project was fully funded by MMU.

Research Degrees Supervision Experience (in Progress):

I currently supervise 3 PhD Students with research project titles -

1) Development of modernised wedding costumes capturing Palestinian heritage (Supervisor).

2) Understanding the motives and behaviour of young Chinese consumers towards entry-level luxury fashion brands: An empirical study (Chief Supervisor/Director of Study).

3) Research on Fashion Innovation Ecosystem based on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area (external supervisor appointed by Hong Kong Polytechnic University).

I currently supervisor 1 Masters by Research student with project title:

The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Promotional Mix in the UK (Supervisor) ( Project was fully funded by MMU).

External examiner roles

Appointed as Independent External Examiner of University of Manchester (UoM) for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 2016.

Appointed as Independent External Examiner of University of Manchester (UoM) for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in 2020.

Projects and initiatives

I have successfully developed and won funding from Huizhou Municipal Government for the senior management training programme at Hollings in the Autumn 2012 for entrepreneurs/officials from Huizhou city. Following a similar proposal, six senior managers from Ko Shun Cheong Steel Coil Centre Ltd (Shenzhen) have already successfully completed the senior manager training programme at Hollings in September 2011.

I also successfully organised and ran a funded summer programme at Hollings for 18 Chinese students from Zhejiang Textile and Fashion College in August 2011.
Aside from my academic teaching and supervision, I work with the Dean of Hollings Faculty and Heads of Department/School to develop and maintain academic links with Universities, and to create both employment and placement opportunities for CDT students in China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan Region and Japan.

Since 2002, I have organized for CDT students to present their designs in the final catwalk shows in the China Cup International Fashion Design Competitions (Women's Wear, Men's Wear, Childrenwear and Underwear), the Humen Cup International Youth Design Contest (Women’s Wear) and the Jeanswest Fashion Award (resulting in CDT students winning a variety of prizes and gaining recognition for MMU through these competitions. The fashion organizing committes generously covered all international travel expense, visa, insurance and accommodation for each of the CDT students who were selected to the final catwalk shows).

Exhibitions

Exhibited my Photographic Works in 1994, 1995, 1997 at Huizhou University.

Community, charity and NGO links

I am one of the key members of the Federation of Chinese Associations Manchester participating volunteer works for the Chinese community in Greater Manchester. I am also a member of the Chinese Streamside Garden working Committee of RHS Garden Bridgewater participating charity works for this Chinese Streamside Garden project: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater/chinese-streamside-garden. So far I have been facilitating to raise £57,000.00 pounds for this project. I recently have been joining the first generation campaign, a philanthropy at MMU to raise fund from the Chinese Community in Greater Manchester to support this first generation scheme: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/giving/firstgeneration/about/.

Prizes and awards

  • Shortlisted in the category – Best Supervisor of Teaching Awards of MMU 2013.
  • Nominated in the category – Best Personal Tutor of Teaching Awards of MMU 2013.
  • Nominated in the category – Best Overall Teacher of Teaching Awards of MMU 2012.
  • Awarded the Manchester Metropolitan University Scholarship to cover PhD tuition fees studies in the Department of Clothing Design and Technology, November 1999 to March 2005.
  • Awarded the Glorious Sun Group (Hong Kong) Scholarship to cover tuition fees and living costs of Undergraduate Programmes studies in the Northwest Institute of Textiles Science & Technology (Huizhou Campus) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, September 1985 to July 1992.
  • Awarded ‘Remarkable Achievement Prize’ in the Group Project: Developing & Implementing ISO9002 Quality Assurance for Advancetex Garment Manufactory (Huizhou) Limited, joint award of the Glorious Sun Holding Ltd and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 1996.

Visiting and honorary positions

  • Visiting Professor, Huizhou Economic and Polytechnic College, China.
  • Visiting Professor, Huizhou University, China.
  • Visiting Professor, Jiangxi Institute of Clothing Technology, China.

Editiorial Board membership

Membership of professional associations

  • Chartered Member of the Textile Institute, Manchester, UK – CText ATI.
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy, UK – FHEA

Research

Research Interests

My research interests concern the different facets of fashion design and manufacture and how technology and management systems not only assist particular aspects to combine and move forward, but at the same time pose new challenges in terms of their management. One such example is the case of the management and organisation of fashion clothing supply chains, particularly between Great Britain and China; various ways have been devised to assist the smooth operation of the supply chain, but even so, what remains of key interest is how best to establish certainty in communication and thereby to enhance quality assurance along such chains. My other research interests, which also relate to fashion technology and/or the management of its introduction/effective operation include:

  1. Sustainability in Supply Chain Management (ongoing research project)
  2. Innovation Ecosystem within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area (ongoing research project)
  3. Circular Economy (ongoing papers publication)
  4. Global Supply Chain Management
  5. Logistics and Supply Chain Practices
  6. Interaction between Fashion Marketing and Supply-Chain Management
  7. International Fashion Business
  8. Cultural Differences and their effects on Fashion Marketing and Merchandising Practices
  9. Fashion Branding
  10. Quality Management

International Presentations:

  1. Keynote Presentation: “A cross-national study of consumer culture: Fashion buying behaviour between Canada, China and India”, International Conference - Fashion communication: between
    tradition and future digital developments, which was hosted by the prestigious Congressi Stefano Franscini, conference platform of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Zurich, in Monte Verità (Ascona, Switzerland), 21-26 July, 2019. Conference website: https://digitalfashion.ch/factum19-keynote-speakers/.
  2. Presented joint paper: “A Cross-National Study of Apparel Consumer Behaviour and Consumption between Canada and China” at the 4th International Conference on Contemporary Marketing Issues, Heraklion, Greece, 21st -26th June 2016.
  3. Presented joint paper: “Changing Dynamics of Global Clothing Production and UK Potential”, at the 89th Textile Institute World Conference Wuhan China, 2nd-6th November 2014.
  4. Presented joint paper: “Influence of Cup Stitching Techniques on Bras’ Basic Patterns Cutting”, at the 89th Textile Institute World Conference Wuhan China, 2nd-6th November 2014.
  5. Presented joint paper: “Comparison of Design Technologies between Chaoshan Artex and European Hand-made Lace”, at the 89th Textile Institute World Conference Wuhan China, 2nd-6th November 2014.
  6. Presented joint paper: “Brand Protection and Counterfeiting in the United Kingdom and China”, at the 10th (annual) International Conference for Consumer Behaviour and Retailing Research (CIRCLE Conference) in the School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Portugal, 2nd-7th April 2013.
  7. Presented joint paper: “A Critical Evaluation of the Potential for a Luxury Fashion Market in Sanya, Hainan Province, China”, at the 88th Textile Institute World Conference in Shah Alam, Malaysia on 15th to 17th 2012.
  8. Keynote Presentation: “Development of Quality Assurance Critical Control Point (QACCP) System for International Fashion Supply Chain Management”, at the 9th Asian Textile Conference which was held on 28th to 30th June 2007 in Feng Chia University, Taiwan.
  9. PowerPoint Presentation: “Fashion Business and Technology Education in the UK” at the Forum of Fashion Design Education in China and UK – Global Fashion Design Education Development Trend, the 17th Dalian International Fashion and Cultural Festival, which was held on 10th to 12th September 2005, Dalian City, China.
  10. Presented paper: “Communication in International Clothing Supply Chain Management between Great Britain and China”, The 84th TI World Conference, which was held on 22nd to 25th of March 2005 in North Caroline State University, Raleigh, USA.
  11. Presented joint paper: “Quality Control in International Clothing Supply Chains”, The Textile Institute 83rd World Conference, May 2004, Shanghai China.
  12. Interpreted presentation for Professor Richard Murray: “Factors in the design and development of Underwear II”, 2004 Shanghai International Fashion Cultural Festival and Changning Donghua Fashion Week.
  13. Presented paper on behalf of Catherine Fairhurst: “The Development of Fashion/Clothing Business and Technology Educational Programmes in the UK”, 2003 Shenzhen International Fashion Design Educational Conference, July 2003, Shenzhen China.
  14. Presented joint paper with Professor Richard Murray: “International Supply Chain Management – A UK Children’s Wear Perspective”, 2002 “China Cup” International Fashion Design Contest & 2002 Shanghai International Fashion Cultural Festival.
  15. Interpreted presentation for Professor Richard Murray: “Factors in the design and development of Underwear I”, 2002 “China Cup” International Fashion Design Contest & 2002 Shanghai International Fashion Cultural Festival.

Academic collaborations

Joint research project between Manchester Metropolitan University and Shenzhen Polytechnic: Investigation into the compatibility of CAD systems within China`s Apparel Industry”, funded by MMU and SZP, completed in 2006.

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

I am an experience peer reviewer for:

1) Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management

2) Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics

Books

Venkatraman, P., Tyler, D., Chen, Z., 2014. 'Evaluation of Pressure Measurement Systems for Compression Garments', LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

Book Chapters

Chen, Z., 2002. 'Chapter 2 Garment Technology Foundation - Chapter 2.1 Garment Production Terminology, Chapter 2.3 Stitch and Chapter 2.5 Seam'. In Garment Manufacturing Technology, The China Textile Press..

Chen, Z., 2002. 'Chapter 4 Garment Assembling Technology – Chapter 4.4 Tailor Skirt Making Technology'. In Garment Manufacturing Technology, The China Textile Press.

Chen, Z., 2002. 'Chapter 1 Introduction of Garment Technology - Chapter 1.1 History of Garment Technology and the Future Development'. In Garment Manufacturing Technology, The China Textile Press.

Journal Articles

Rahman, O., Fung, BCM., Chen, Z., 2020. 'Young Chinese Consumers’ Choice between Product-Related and Sustainable Cues—The Effects of Gender Differences and Consumer Innovativeness', Sustainability, 12 (9), pp. 3818-3818.

Rahman, O., Chen, Z., Fung, BCM., Kharb, D., 2020. 'A cross-national study of young female consumer behaviour, innovativeness and apparel evaluation: China and India', The Journal of The Textile Institute, 111 (3), pp. 334-344.

Rahman, O., Fung, BCM., Chen, Z., Gao, X., 2017. 'A cross-national study of apparel consumer preferences and the role of product-evaluative cues', Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 29 (4), pp. 796-812.

Rahman, O., Fung, BCM., Chen, Z., Chang, W., Gao, X., 2017. 'A Study of Apparel Consumer Behaviour in China and Taiwan', International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 11 (1), pp. 22-33.

Chen, Z., Yu, L., Murray, R., 2013. 'Brand Protection and Counterfeiting in the United Kingdom and China', International Journal of Management Cases, 15 (4), pp. 373-385.

Chen, Z., Murray, R., Jones, Z., 2007. 'Fashion supply chain organization and management between the UK and China', Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 11 (3), pp. 380-397.

Chan, YY., Chan, CK., Chen, Z., 2007. 'Knowledge Management for Hong Kong Apparel Industry A Vision of Post-quota Era', World Journal of Business Management, 2007 (1), pp. 17-27.

Chen, Z., 2003. 'International Supply Chain Management – A UK Children’s Wear Perspective', China Garment, 113 (August), pp. 36-39.

Conference Papers

Rahman, O., Kharb, D., Chen, Z., 2018. 'A Study of Emerging Consumer Markets through Fashion Selection and Consumption', The NIFT international conference ‘Rediscovering Culture: Transforming Fashion’, National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, India, 31/1/2018 - 2/11/2017.

Rahman, O., Chen, Z., Gao, X., 2016. 'A Cross-National Study of Apparel Consumer Behaviour and Consumption between Canada and China', 4th International Conference on Contemporary Marketing Issues (ICCMI) 2016, Heraklion Greece, 22/6/2016 - 24/6/2016, in Conference Proceedings CD, pp. 80-88.

Ke, Y., Chen, Z., 2014. 'Comparison of Design Technologies between Chaoshan Artex and European Hand-made Lace', The 89th Textile Institute World Conference, Wuhan, China, 2/11/2014 - 6/11/2014, in Proceedings of The 89th Textile Institute World Conference.

Chen, Z., Bresnahan, S., 2014. 'Changing Dynamics of Global Clothing Production and UK Potential', The 89th Textile Institute World Conference, Wuhan, China, 2/11/2014 - 6/11/2014, in Proceedings of The 89th Textile Institute World Conference.

Luo, Q., Chen, Z., 2014. 'Influence of Cup Stitching Techniques on Bras’ Basic Patterns Cutting', The 89th Textile Institute World Conference, Wuhan, China, 2/11/2014 - 6/11/2014, in Proceedings of The 89th Textile Institute World Conference.

Adu-Boakye, S., Powers, J., Wallace, T., Chen, Z., 2012. 'Development of a Sizing System for Ghanaian Women for the Production of Ready-to-Wear Clothing', THE 88TH TEXTILE INSTITUTE WORLD CONFERENCE, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, 15/5/2012 - 17/5/2012, in PROCEEDING OF THE 88TH TEXTILE INSTITUTE WORLD CONFERENCE.

Chen, Z., Ma, T., Murray, R., 2012. 'A Critical Evaluation of the Potential for a Luxury Fashion Market in Sanya, Hainan Province, China', THE 88TH TEXTILE INSTITUTE WORLD CONFERENCE 2012, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, 15/5/2012 - 17/5/2012, in PROCEEDING OF THE 88TH TEXTILE INSTITUTE WORLD CONFERENCE 2012.

Adu-Boakye, S., Powers, J., Wallace, T., Chen, Z., 2010. 'Development of a sizing system for Ghanaian Women: a conceptual framework for ready-to-wear clothing for manufacturing strategies', The 87th Textile Institute World Conference, Manchester, UK, 3/11/2010 - 4/11/2010, in Proceeding of The 87th Textile Institute World Conference.

Chen, Z., Ruckman, J., Murray, R., 2007. 'Development of Quality Assurance Critical Control Point (QACCP) System for International Fashion Supply Chain Management', The 9th Asian Textile Conference, Feng Chia University, Taiwan, 28/6/2007 - 30/6/2007.

Chen, Z., 2005. 'Communication in International Clothing Supply Chain Management between Great Britain and China', The 84th Textile Institute World Conference, North Carolina State University, USA, 22/3/2005 - 25/3/2005, in Proceedings CD of 84th Textile Institute World Conference.

Chen, Z., Murray, R., Ruckman, J., 2004. 'Quality Control in International Clothing Supply Chains', The 83rd Textile Institute World Conference, Donghua University, Shanghai, China, in Proceedings CD of the 83rd Textile Institute World Conference, pp. 1422-1427.

Chen, Z., Murray, R., 2003. 'International Supply Chain Management – A UK Children’s Wear Perspective', 2003 Shenzhen International Fashion Design Educational Conference, Shenzhen, China, in Journal of 2003 Shenzhen International Fashion Design Educational Conference, pp. 59-66.

Office Location

Room C2.42
Cavendish South
Manchester Fashion Institute
Manchester Metropolitan University
Cavendish Street
Manchester M15 6BG

Office Hours

I am available for student appointments at 13:00-15:00 on Wednesdays. Please email t.chen@mmu.ac.uk for booking an appointment.