Jonathan Kaplan

Dr Jonathan Kaplan is an Adjunct Fellow at the School of Design, University of Technology Sydney. His academic work focuses on the intersection of fashion, cultural history, and Jewish studies, with particular emphasis on men's fashion in historical contexts.

His educational background includes:

• PhD from University of Technology Sydney (2015-2019)
• Bachelor of Design (First Class Honours) in Fashion and Textiles from University of Technology Sydney (2011-2014)

Dr Kaplan's research primarily explores Jewish men's fashion history, particularly in fin-de-siècle Vienna and early 20th century Europe. His work examines how clothing functioned as a tool for Jewish assimilation, identity formation, and cultural expression within European societies. He investigates the complex relationship between sartorial practices and Jewish identity, analyzing how dress both facilitated and negated the process of acculturation for Jewish communities in Central Europe. His research often focuses on specific historical periods and figures, using visual and written sources to uncover the nuanced ways clothing communicated social status, national belonging, and cultural identity. A recurring theme is how anti-Semitic stereotypes were visually constructed and how these historical patterns continue to resonate today.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of Jewish identity and fashion history, with particular attention to Vienna during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work spans academic journals, book chapters, and editorial contributions to the field of men's fashion studies. Notably, he serves as co-editor for Critical Studies in Men's Fashion, where he has contributed multiple editorials introducing thematic issues. His scholarship reveals how clothing functioned as both markers of difference and tools for assimilation within Jewish communities facing social and political challenges, particularly during periods of rising nationalism and anti-Semitism.