Anika KozlowskiAssistant Professor of Design Studies

I am an interdisciplinary researcher, educator, and designer dedicated to advancing sustainable fashion through systems thinking and practice-based research. By leveraging my diverse background in microbiology, environmental science, and fashion design, I have developed an approach to scholarship that bridges science, design, and critical social perspectives. My research studies have focused on exploring the use of design and systems thinking in developing alternative hyper-local modes of responsible and regenerative clothing production, consumption, and disposal. I continually explore the holistic design and business practices of sustainably-minded micro-small fashion enterprises (MSEs) and their role in the transition to circular fashion systems.

Current research projects include examining textile waste and second-hand clothing pathways at different scales within multiple pathways, such as the thrift donation stream and textile waste management systems. Through community engagement and a design justice perspective, I analyze how discarded garments circulate through formal and informal networks, identifying opportunities to establish hyper-local recirculation systems. By understanding the social, material, and economic dynamics of second-hand clothing flows, my work aims to reduce textile waste and foster more resilient, community-driven models for responsible fashion consumption and disposal. Combining theory and practice, I seek to make research actionable for policymakers, industry professionals, and the public.

For more, see Kozlowski’s CV.