Dr. Hakan Karaosman is reshaping the fashion industry by advocating for transparency and accountability in sustainable practices. Having started his journey in a modest home where his mother sewed garments, Karaosman has emerged as a leading authority in sustainable fashion and responsible supply chain management. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano and a Visiting Scholar at University College Dublin, he is recognized globally for his efforts to address the industry’s long-standing issues of exploitation and opacity.
Championing Worker Rights and Sustainability
Dr. Karaosman’s mission is deeply personal. He aims to center the experiences and rights of garment workers, especially women in the Global South, who are vital to the multi-trillion-dollar fashion industry. His work transcends typical sustainability marketing narratives, focusing instead on real-world impacts and structural reforms. As a co-founder of the EU-backed FReSCH (Fashion’s Responsible Supply Chain Hub), he has established a coalition of NGOs, researchers, and policymakers to tackle pressing issues such as heat stress in garment factories and governance failures.
His academic credentials are impressive, including a double doctorate from Politecnico di Milano and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, as well as a Master’s in energy and environmental management earned through the Erasmus Mundus program across Spain, France, and Sweden. This background in environmental engineering informs his approach to integrating sustainability into luxury fashion supply chains.
Acknowledged Leadership and Influence
Dr. Karaosman’s influence extends beyond academia. His insights have informed initiatives led by the European Commission and various UN bodies, and his research has been widely disseminated, accumulating thousands of downloads. His contributions were notably featured in a five-part series by Forbes on sustainable fashion, highlighting the systemic reforms necessary for genuine equity and climate accountability.
Recognition for his work includes being named in the Vogue Business 100 Innovators: Class of 2023, receiving the Greenpeace Italia Voice for the Climate Award, and earning the Excellence in Sustainability Award from Cardiff University. Most recently, FReSCH received the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award for its role in translating academic research into practical tools that shape policy and industry practices.
As he looks ahead, Dr. Karaosman will focus on critical issues within the fashion industry, including social justice, decarbonization, and supply chain resilience. His teaching at Politecnico di Milano emphasizes systems thinking and inclusive leadership, preparing students not just to enter the industry but to enact meaningful change.
Continuing his commitment to social equity, Karaosman organizes high-impact events, bringing together garment workers and luxury executives to foster dialogue and collaboration. His approach aims to redefine who has a voice in shaping the future of fashion, stressing that justice should be foundational to sustainability and innovation.
In an industry often distracted by aesthetics over substance, Dr. Hakan Karaosman remains a pivotal figure, weaving together academic rigor, lived experiences, and collective action to create a fairer and more transparent fashion landscape.
