Joseph Hancock, PhD

Joe Hancock
Professor, Department of Fashion Design, Department of Design
Expertise fashion branding retail

Joseph “Joe” Henry Hancock II, PhD, came to Drexel’s Department of Design having a 20-year retail operations, branding, merchandising, consumer behavior and strategy background. He has worked for such companies as The Gap Inc., The Limited Corporation and Target Corporation. For over six years, Hancock has run a conference planning and management business where he serves an the executive director. He has published internationally and is a well-known authority in the area of fashion branding, retailing and merchandising as a form of storytelling. He has lectured and taught courses at University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, London College of Fashion and at Stockholm University. Has been an invited speaker at Cornell University, The Ohio State University, Albright College and the University of Delaware. He has an BS and MS from Indiana University, Bloomington, in Apparel Merchandising and received his PhD in 2007 from The Ohio State University in Consumer Sciences.

In The News

Who Are You Wearing?
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, was featured on a March 3 KCBS-Radio (San Francisco) segment about fashion moments at the Oscars.
Aspirational Dressing Is So Last Century. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s New Dress Code Proves It.
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College, was quoted in an Oct. 6 Philadelphia Inquirer opinion article about the decline of aspirational dressing amid the Philadelphia Orchestra’s new dress code designation. The article was picked up by MSN Lifestyle.
It’s Time To Bring Back Cargo Pants
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College, was quoted in an Aug. 18 Wired article about bringing back cargo pants.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Our Future Vanity? Well-Being Will Trump How We Look.
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College, was quoted in an Aug. 2 Philadelphia Inquirer article about how COVID-19 will impact our vanity viewpoints.
The New Fashion District Store May Fit Into Forever 21’s Post-bankruptcy Plan
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College, was quoted in an Oct. 1 WHYY.org story about Forever 21’s post-bankruptcy plan.
Philly’s Fashion District And The Future of Shopping Malls
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in the Westphal College, was featured in a Sept. 26 WHYY "Radio Times" segment about Philly's Fashion District and the future of shopping malls.
The Fashion Backlash to Cargo Shorts Has Reached an All-Time High
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College was quoted in a July 16 Yahoo! Lifestyle article about the allure and debatable stylishness of cargo shorts.
'SOLEcial Studies': Drexel Sneaker Program
Joseph Hancock, PhD, a professor in Westphal College of Media Arts & Design was interviewed for an April 23 KYW-TV (CBS-3) segment about the Pennoni Honors College class “Business of Sneakers,” taught by Rankin Scholar-In-Residence Sean Williams.

Related Articles

Photo courtesy of iStock Boots, Western Wear and the Return of the Bell Bottom? A Fall Fashion Q&A
Design & Merchandising Associate Professor Joseph Hancock, PhD, weighs in on some of the fall trends to watch for this season on Drexel’s campus and beyond.
Holiday Survival Guide
During the holiday season, Drexel University experts are available to help news media with a variety of stories.