Robert Ott
Associate Professor
The Creative School
School of Fashion
Toronto, Ontario
robert.ott@torontomu.ca
Office:
(416) 979-5000 ext. 6440
Expert In
Bio/Research
Robert Ott is an Associate Professor in the School of Fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University. He was the previous Chair of Fashion from 2008-2018 and currently is Interim Chair, School of Image Arts.
His research focuses on fashion systems, which are mechanisms for the production and...
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His research focuses on fashion systems, which are mechanisms for the production and...
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Bio/Research
Robert Ott is an Associate Professor in the School of Fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University. He was the previous Chair of Fashion from 2008-2018 and currently is Interim Chair, School of Image Arts.
His research focuses on fashion systems, which are mechanisms for the production and consumption of clothing. These systems change continually to adapt to changes in production technologies and consumer tastes and several systems operate at any one time. While the prevailing contemporary fashion system is structured around mass production, its manufacturing techniques are increasingly coming under scrutiny as working conditions and environmental effects are considered exploitative and unsustainable. Furthermore, contemporary fashion systems have largely displaced traditional fashion systems that rely on the handcrafting of one-of-a-kind artefacts. Recently, however, craftsmanship is seemingly enjoying a small but evident resurgence and creating a new fashion system.
Robert is currently in the latter stages of completing a PhD at the University of Leicester, School of Business. In an ethnography of tailors and shoemakers he investigates the notion of craftship to understand what embodied skills, materials, and tools inform contemporary practices of craftsmanship. This study provides a perspective on how the body and materials interrelate, how work is organized, and what factors influence the making of bespoke artefacts.
He is recognized for his extensive senior management experience with women’s wear market leader The Jones Group where he held a series of progressively responsible executive roles since he first joined the firm in 1990. Robert was responsible for directing product research, development and production; supporting marketing activities; developing and overseeing an international business model; and re-evaluating the strategic positioning of corporate brands and licences in Canada, including Jones New York, Anne Klein, Lauren Ralph Lauren, and Nine West.
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His research focuses on fashion systems, which are mechanisms for the production and consumption of clothing. These systems change continually to adapt to changes in production technologies and consumer tastes and several systems operate at any one time. While the prevailing contemporary fashion system is structured around mass production, its manufacturing techniques are increasingly coming under scrutiny as working conditions and environmental effects are considered exploitative and unsustainable. Furthermore, contemporary fashion systems have largely displaced traditional fashion systems that rely on the handcrafting of one-of-a-kind artefacts. Recently, however, craftsmanship is seemingly enjoying a small but evident resurgence and creating a new fashion system.
Robert is currently in the latter stages of completing a PhD at the University of Leicester, School of Business. In an ethnography of tailors and shoemakers he investigates the notion of craftship to understand what embodied skills, materials, and tools inform contemporary practices of craftsmanship. This study provides a perspective on how the body and materials interrelate, how work is organized, and what factors influence the making of bespoke artefacts.
He is recognized for his extensive senior management experience with women’s wear market leader The Jones Group where he held a series of progressively responsible executive roles since he first joined the firm in 1990. Robert was responsible for directing product research, development and production; supporting marketing activities; developing and overseeing an international business model; and re-evaluating the strategic positioning of corporate brands and licences in Canada, including Jones New York, Anne Klein, Lauren Ralph Lauren, and Nine West.
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Links
Media Relations
Michelle LePage
PR and Communications Specialist, Central Communications
michelle.lepage@torontomu.ca
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PR and Communications Specialist, Central Communications
michelle.lepage@torontomu.ca
Click to Expand >>
Media Relations
Michelle LePage
PR and Communications Specialist, Central Communications
michelle.lepage@torontomu.ca
Karen Benner
Director, University Communications
karen.benner@torontomu.ca
(416) 979-5000 ext. 553494
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PR and Communications Specialist, Central Communications
michelle.lepage@torontomu.ca
Karen Benner
Director, University Communications
karen.benner@torontomu.ca
(416) 979-5000 ext. 553494
Click to Shrink <<