academic cv

education

PhD Environmental Applied Sciences & Management, Ryerson University Toronto, ON 2012-2019

Dissertation: The Responsible Fashion System: A Reconceptualization of the Role of Fashion Design

MASc Environmental Applied Sciences & Management, Ryerson University Toronto, ON 2010-2012

Thesis: Corporate social responsibility in the apparel industry: A multiple case study analysis.

Thesis work presented a review of the CSR reporting of the 14 apparel/footwear brands belonging to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on all reported CSR initiatives, actions and indicators and a cross-case analysis was conducted. The key findings of the study include a lack of comparability among reported CSR indicators. In addition, a similar distribution pattern of CSR indicators across five elements was observed. The results highlight that CSR reporting currently is not effective in providing a true reflection of brands CSR actions and initiatives and the means for evaluating effectiveness in CSR reporting has not yet been put in place.

B.Des. Fashion Design, Ryerson University Toronto, ON 2003-2008

BSc (Hons), Microbiology/Psychology, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB 1998-2003 

professional appointments

Assistant Professor of Fashion Design, Ethics & Sustainability School of Fashion, Toronto Metropolitan University (2018 - present)

publications

peer-reviewed journal articles

2022

McQueen, R.H., Jain, A., McNeill, L.S., & Kozlowski, A. (2022). The role of repair resources in repair practice: Engagement with self, paid and unpaid clothing repair by young Canadian consumers. Textile Research Journal, 00405175221123067.

McQueen, R.H., McNeill, L.S., Kozlowski, A. & Jain, A. (2022). Frugality, style longevity and garment repair – environmental attitudes and consumption behaviour amongst young Canadian fashion consumers, International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, DOI: 10.1080/17543266.2022.2072958

2019

Kozlowski, A., Bardecki, M., & Searcy, C. (2019). Tools for sustainable fashion design: An analysis of their fitness for purpose. Sustainability, 11(13), 3581.

2018

Kozlowski, A., Searcy, C., & Bardecki, M. (2018). The reDesign canvas: Fashion design as a tool for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 183,

2015

Kozlowski, A, Searcy, C. & Bardecki, M. (2015). Corporate sustainability reporting in the apparel industry. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 64(3), 377-397.

2012

Kozlowski, A. Bardecki, M. & Searcy, C. (2012). Environmental impacts in the fashion industry: A lifecycle and stakeholder framework. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 2012(45), 16-36.

2011

Kozlowski, A. and Wrobel, C. (2011). International Tourists’ Willingness-to-pay for Entry to the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Himalayan Journal of Development and Democracy, 6(1), 97-109.

Bardecki, M. and Kozlowski, A.  (2011). Green Fashion in K.Wehr, (Ed.). Green Culture: An A-to-Z Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 163-165.

peer-reviewed conference proceedings

Kozlowski, A. & va Pesaran, D.M. (2021). Recontextualising and Appropriating Second-Hand Western Fashion Items in Non-Western Contexts. In: Sung, K., Singh, J., Bridgens, B. (eds) State-of-the-Art Upcycling Research and Practice. Lecture Notes in Production Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72640-9_12

Kozlowski, A. & Mohajer Va Pesaran, D. (2020). Recontextualizing and Appropriating Secondhand Western Fashion Items in Non-Western Contexts. In K. Sung, J. Singh and B. Bridgens eds State-of-the-Art Upcycling Research and Practice Proceedings of the International Upcycling Symposium 2020

Schaeffer, K., Haines, S., & Kozlowski, A. (2018). Think-Pair-Share: An active learning strategy for apparel pattern drafting. In International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) Annual Conference Proceedings. 115

Kozlowski, A., M. Bardecki and C. Searcy. (2014). Sustainable fashion: a re-conceptualization of the role of fashion design. In E. Bohemia, A. Rieple, J. Liedtka and R. Cooper eds Design Management in an Era of Disruption: The 19th DMI Academic Design Management Conference (Boston, MA: Design Management Institute) 644-661

Kozlowski, A., M. Bardecki and C. Searcy (2014). Corporate sustainability reports in the apparel industry: an analysis of reported indicators. In Conference Proceedings.  Performance Management: Designing the High-Performance Organization (Aarhus, Denmark: Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University) Paper 0020 [http://icoa.au.dk/fileadmin/ICOA/PMA2014/PMA_2014_Conference_Proceedings.pdf]

book chapters

Kozlowski, A. (2023). Look at your label. In D. Mohajer va Pesaran & L. Gardner (Eds.) Radical Fashion Exercises: A Workbook of Modes and Methods. Amsterdam: Valiz.

Kozlowski, A., Bardecki, M., & Searcy, C. (2016). Innovation for a sustainable fashion industry: A design focused approach toward the development of new business models. In S.S. Muthu & M.A. Gardetti (Eds.), Green Fashion (pp.151-170). Singapore: Springer.

 Kozlowski, A., Bardecki, M., & Searcy, C. (2014). Sustainability Driven Innovation and Fashion Design. In K. Niinimaki (Ed.), Sustainable Fashion: New Approaches (pp.134-145). Helsinki: Aalto University.

 Bardecki, M. and Kozlowski, A. (2011). Green fashion. In K.Wehr, (Ed.), Green Culture: An A-to-Z Guide (pp. 163-165). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 forthcoming contributions:

Kozlowski, A., Bardecki, M., & Searcy, C. Sustainably-minded MSE fashion brands: Staying with the trouble. Manuscript in preparation.

Kozlowski, A., & Street, L. Textile Recycling in Undergraduate Fashion Programs. Manuscript in preparation.

Dugas, E., & Kozlowski, A. Commodifying sustainability? Examining ecolabels employed by Canadian apparel companies

reports & other selected publications

Weber, S., Drennan, K. Kozlowski, A., Jacob-Vaillancourt, C., Fiset-Sauvageau, L. (2021). A Feasibility Study of Synthetic Textile Recycling in the Canadian Fashion Industry. Fashion Takes Action and Environment and Climate Change Canada

Kozlowski, A. (2019). Fast fashion sustainability is about more than the fabrics. The Fashion Law. Retrieved from: http://www.thefashionlaw.com/home/fast-fashion-sustainability-is-about-more-than-the-fabrics

Kozlowski, A. (2019). Fast fashion lies will they really change their ways in a climate crisis. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/fast-fashion-lies-will-they-really-change-their-ways-in-a-climate-crisis-121033

Kozlowski, A. (2019). Fashion production is modern slavery: 5 things you can do to help now. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/fashion-production-is-modern-slavery-5-things-you-can-do-to-help-now-115889

Kozlowski, A. (2017). Your organic T-shirt is doomed to end up in a dump. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/your-organic-t-shirt-is- doomed-to-end-up-in-a-dump-82240

Kozlowski, A. (2017). Fashion designers respond to environmental crises. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/fashion-designers-respond- to-environmental-crisis-78792

grants, awards & honours

invited lectures, presentations, roundtables & workshops

2022

University of Alberta, Canada guest lecture: Second-hand clothing economy & end-of-life streams

Fashion Zone, Toronto, Canada workshop: Sustainable Fashion Design Entrepreneurship - A 3-part series delivered in Summer & Fall

Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto, Canada roundtable: Building a Circular Economy for Fashion in Canada

RUBIX 2022, TMU, Toronto, Canada guest lecture: What is Sustainable Design?

2021

ICF Circular Ideas Lab, Social Science & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada guest lecture: Building a Circular Economy & Multi/Inter-disciplinary Approaches

Environmental Law, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON guest lecture: Sustainable Fashion & the Law

Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, Canada. panel: Recycling in Fashion, Nehal El-Hadi with Tanya Theberge & Anika Kozlowski

EntrepreNorth Gathering 2 program, Canada workshop: Sustainability: What does it mean and how do I tap into it?

Fashion Zone, Toronto, Canada workshop: Fashion Zone: Tapping into your values for a sustainable business model

Fashion Zone, Toronto, Canada workshop: Fashion Zone: Strategies for Sustainable Fashion Design

2020

New Fashion Propositions, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia guest lecture: Newness & Waste Colonization

2019

World Ethical Apparel Roundtable (WEAR), Toronto, Canada panel moderator: Integrating Sustainability into Retail Operations: Sustainable Packaging & Carbon Management

Wuxly, Toronto, Canada panelist: Sustainability Meets Fashion

Production Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON guest lecture: Sustainable Supply Chains

2018

Ecosessions, Toronto, Canada panelist: Textile Waste

2017

Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation, Toronto, Canada invited talk: Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurship

Seminar - Environmental Applied Sciences & Mgmt, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON guest lecture: Cotton: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

2016

World Ethical Apparel Roundtable (WEAR) Conference, Toronto, Canada invited talk: reDesign Canvas: A designer's approach for a responsible fashion system panelist: Innovative Sustainable Business Models

Seminar - Environmental Applied Sciences & Mgmt, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON guest lecture: Cotton: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

2013

Sustainable & Innovative Fashion Seminar, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland invited talk: Innovation for a Sustainable Fashion Industry: A Design Focused Approach

International Researcher Workshop on Sustainable Fashion, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark invited talk: Sustainable innovation in the fashion industry: A design focused approach towards the development of new business models

Contemporary Design Theories and Practices, OCAD University, Toronto, ON guest lecture: Sustainable Design: A Fashion Perspective

conference activity & participation

peer-reviewed presentations

2022

ITAA Annual Conference 2022: Innovate to Elevate Presenter: Textile Recycling in Undergraduate Fashion Programs

2021

Ryerson IFFTI Short Event, Toronto, Canada Presenter: The Western Charity Myth: Unpacking the Impacts of Second-hand Clothes in Ghana

2020

International Upcycling Symposium, UK Presenter: Recontextualizing and Appropriating Secondhand Western Fashion Items in Non-Western Contexts

2014

DMI Academic Design Management Conference, London, UK Presenter: Sustainable fashion: A re-conceptualization of the role of fashion design

PMA Conference - Copenhagen, Denmark Presenter (Cory Searcy, co-author, presented in my place): Corporate sustainability reports in the apparel industry: An analysis of reported indicators

conference/symposium organizer

2019/20  

21st Century Natural Dyes in Northeast America: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions Conference, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. 

2013       

Re:Store Re:Juvenate Re:Build Symposium, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

peer-reviewed exhibition

2018

Rubix, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON (re)Design Project

teaching experience

graduate - assistant professor

Sustainable Product Design (3 credits) - Environmental Applied Sciences & Mgmt enrolment 22 - 2023

Ethical & Sustainable Fashion Design (3 credits) - Fashion MA average enrolment 17 - 2018, 2021, 2023

Research Methods (3 credits) - Fashion MA average enrolment 20 - 2019

Directed Studies in Fashion (3 credits) - Fashion MA enrolment 1 - 2020

undergraduate lecture - assistant professor

Special Topics: Ethical and Sustainable Fashion (3 credits) average enrolment 30 - 2020, 2021

Discovering Textiles (3 credits) average enrolment 80 - 2020

Intro to Fashion (3 credits) average enrolment 250 - 2018

undergraduate studio - assistant professor

FFD213 Fashion Design II (6 credits) average enrolment 25 - 2021, 2022, 2023

Fashion Systems II (3 credits) average enrolment 27 - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

FSN120 Fashion Design I (4 credits) average enrolment 25 - 2019

FSN220 Fashion Design II (3 credits) average enrolment 25 - 2019, 2020

undergraduate studio & tutorial - sessional instructor

FSN120 Fashion Design I (4 credits) average enrolment 25 - 2016, 2017

Research Methods (3 credits) average enrolment 25 - 2016, 2017

supervision & examination of graduate students

PhD supervision

2022 - present Changrui He, co-supervisor, dissertation title: TBD

masters supervision

2018-2019 Jennifer Dares, second reader MRP title: Fashion Upcycling: The Challenges, Successes and Solutions from a Designer's Perspective

2019-2020 Caroline Puistonen, supervisor MRP title: Canadian Sustainable Fashion Micro and Small Enterprises: Navigating the Sustainable Development Goals Through Online Marketing

2019-2020 Anna Pollice, second reader MRP title: Marks of Obsession: Appearance, Transformation, Pain and the Abject Female Body

2020-2021 Mariam Mansour, supervisor MRP title: Sustainable Fashion in Egypt? A case study of the Sustainable Business Practices of Egyptian Fashion Retailers

2020-2022 Benedikte Goronga, second reader MRP title: A Kinetic Flat Pattern Method for Childrenswear

2020-2021 Liseth Sierra Vitola, supervisor MRP title: Digital Innovation for Sustainable Fashion: Virtual Fitting Rooms as a Strategy to Minimize Waste and e-Commerce Returns

2021-2022 Emily Dugas, supervisor MRP title: Eco-Labels as Branding Tools: Navigating Green Marketing for Sustainable Canadian Fashion Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

2021-2022 Brigitte Boland, supervisor MRP title: What is ‘Made in Canada’? An Analysis of the Canadian Textile and Apparel Manufacturing Network

2022-2023 Julie Klein, supervisor MRP title: Fast Fashionization of the Fashion Industry: A Comparative Analysis of Fashion Brands to Fast Fashion Criteria and Analysis of their intentional Advertising and Brand Image Design

2022-2023 Camille McConkey, supervisor MRP title: Watching the Watchdog: A Case Study Analysis of Greenpeace’s Detox My Fashion Campaign

2022- Sara Kroll, second reader MRP title: Why Choose to Shop Fast Fashion? Consumer Perceptions

2023- Mina Keykhaei, second reader MRP title: The Transformation of Persian Rugs: Artistic Upcycling as a Pathway to Heritage Preservation and Elevating Post-consumer Textile Waste

2023- Mary Jane McDonald, supervisor MRP title: City of Toronto Sewing Repair Cafes: A Case Study Viability Assessment for Ontario Rural Municipalities

2023- Jacqueline Truong, supervisor MRP title: TBD

2023- Sarah Qubty, supervisor MaSc title: TBD

PhD committees & examination

2020 Kirsten Schaefer, Ryerson University, PhD committee member dissertation title: The Designer’s Contribution to the 3D Knit Ecosystem

2020 - 2023 Samantha Sherer, Ryerson University, PhD committee member

2021 - 2023 Shelley Haines, TMU, PhD committee member dissertation title: Sustainable Fashion Consumption: Themes, Segmentation, and Paths to Sustainable Values and Behaviours

2021 Essi Kerel, Aalto University, external examiner dissertation title: Closing the Loop through Clothing Design: Wishful Thinking or Achievable Practice?

service

journal editorship

2023 Inaugural Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports - sustainability

2022   Guest Editor, Sustainability

ad-hoc manuscript & grant reviewing (2017-2023)

grants

• TMU Internal Equipment Grant Review Committee

• Social Science & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

• National Science Centre Poland

• Wayne State University, USA

• Mitacs, Canada

journals & conferences

• DMI: ADMC Conference

• Business & Society

• Clothing and Textiles Research Journal

• Environmental Communication

• Fashion Studies

• International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education

• Journal of Strategy & Management

• Journal of Business Ethics

• Journal of Cleaner Production

• Journal of Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering

• Resources, Conservation & Recycling.

• Sustainability

advisor

2019 - present Sustainable Fashion Design & Business Advisor, Fashion Zone, Toronto, ON

2017 - 2019 Sustainable Fashion Advisor, Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation, Toronto, ON

committees

university level

2023- Senate Council Member

2019-2021 RFA Representative

2018-2019 Academic Integrity Committee

faculty level

2021/2022 FCAD Learning & Teaching

2021/2022 FCAD Equipment & Tech

departmental level

2022-2023 Departmental Teaching Standards Committee

2022-2023 Sustainable Fashion Initiative (faculty advisor)

2021-2022 Ensciman Graduate Program Curriculum Committee

2021-2022 Departmental Hiring Committee

2020-2021 Academic Appeals Committee

2020-2023 FRC Acquisitions & Governance

2019-2020 Contract Lecturer Appointment Committee (CLAC)

2018-2023 Fashion Graduate Program Council

2018-2023 Fashion School Council

2018-2023 Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

2018-2020 Graduate Curriculum Committee

2018-2020 Student Fashion Union (faculty advisor)

2018-2019 School of Fashion Awards Committee

departmental 

2020 Fashion Design Program Co-Coordinator (year 1 & 2)

2015-2017 Capstone Judge

professional experience

2019-2023    Sustainability Consultant

2015-2016    Consultant, Make Sh*t Happen (MSH), Toronto, Canada

• Provided sustainable design direction and strategies.cCreative direction advisor within an entrepreneurial incubator setting. Designed products for entrepreneurs.

2010 Consultant, Gahaya Links, Kigali, Rwanda

• Volunteered for three months to aid with the set-up of an apparel and home textiles department at Gahaya Links; a fair trade crafts company whose customers include Macy’s, Anthropologie and Sam’s Club.

• Designed a sustainable apparel and home products line for S/S 2012 and developed co-coordinating seasonal colour palettes for the Gahaya brand. Designed accessories for Anthropologie S/S 2011.

• Responsible for creating and implementing a training program for the staff to learn how to sew utilizing industrial machines and production techniques. Created all necessary production documents such as buying sheets, sample cards and cost sheets. Sourced all sustainable materials.

2008-2011    Ladieswear Designer, Bluenotes, Toronto, Canada

• Responsible for the direction, design and development of original graphic art and prints for all ladieswear apparel, swimwear, loungewear, accessories and packaging: yarn dyes, all-over prints, embroidery, appliqués, screen prints and placement prints. 

• Assisted in product line development through selection and modification of styles. Responsible for technical CAD garment drawings used for production packages.

• Researched trends and oversaw the creation and execution of seasonal trend forecasting (head office use) and product knowledge booklets, distributed nationally for in-store use.

2008-2023   Freelance Designer

• Design freelance projects ranging from custom made clothing for Toronto musicians Majid Jordan to uniform designs for corporate beauty retailers such as Clairins.

creative work

2022

TMU Ucycled Gear Fashion Show + Exhibition (Project Lead, Designer, Creative Director, Curator)

• Organized, developed, and coordinated a 25-look runway show commissioning fashion design Alumni TMU. Created an upcycled outfit for the runway show. Organized and curated a follow-up exhibition that showcased the 25 runway looks, highlighting the upcycled design process. Exhibition included education about the secondhand clothing economy and textile waste. Curated & constructed a window showcase for the TMU upcycled gear project at the Student Centre.

2018

Creative Writing, interviewed Heron Preston for Greatest Magazine Issue 2

2005-2009

Presented 10-piece sustainable fashion collections at Alternative Fashion Week (FAT), Toronto, Canada

2004-2007

Presented sustainable fashion designs at Toronto Wildlife Show, Green Living Show & Flourish

media coverage

TV Interviews

2023 CBC - Canada Tonight hosted by Dwight Drummond 

2021 CBC – Marketplace, "The hidden price of your clothes”

2019 CTV - Your Morning

CBC – Evening News, “Climate Strike”

radio & podcast interviews

2018-2023    

• CBC – Metro Morning, Fresh Air (recurring expert)

• CBC – The Q (Fashion Columnist)

• CBC – Syndicate radio nationally (recurring expert)

• CJAD800 - news

2016

• Ryerson Today hosted by Anne Pringle, Toronto, Canada

• These Changing Times hosted by Jarrett Cole, CKUW University of Winnipeg Radio, Winnipeg, Canada

print media interviews

2018-2023

Vogue Business, British Vogue, Vogue, Teen Vogue, CNN, USA Today, Al-Jeezera, CBC, CTV, Fashion Magazine, Elle Canada, The Toronto Star, The Globe & Mail, The Walrus, I-D Magazine, The Fashion Law, InStyle, WWD, NY Post, Standford University Magazine, Flare, Wall Street Journal, New York Times.

technical skills

fashion skills

circular design, sustainable design, biomimicry, sustainable business models, fashion design, pattern drafting, construction, technical design, product development, technical illustrations, draping, textile design, trend forecasting, branding, knitwear, leather

computer skills

Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Nvivo, SPSS, Excel, 3D Clo

languages

 English, French, Polish (Speaking)

professional membership or affiliations

2018-2023 Union of Concerned Fashion Researchers (UCFR)

2016-2023        International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA)

2020-2023       Canadian Circular Fashion Consortium

2020-2021        International Society for Industrial Ecology

2012-2017         Strongly Sustainable Business Model Group (SSBMG)

citizenship

Canadian

Polish / EU