Dr. Anne McInnis defends her research on age mis/perceptions in the NY fashion industry. After living and working in NYC from 1981- 2017, Anne re-entered academia in 2017 at the University of Georgia to get a PhD in textile sciences.

Anne’s PhD research challenges the industry’s problem with ageism and its extreme focus on youthfulness. Her work explores the social identities and lived experiences of a shared population: creative New Yorkers who have worked in the fashion industry over the last four+ decades. Her defense maps the cycles of foundation, change, returning, and becoming through stories, identities, historical events, and the shifts that have occurred with manufacturing, technology, global events, and the diverse 21^st century work environment. She sought to comprehend the dilemmas and marginalization of older professionals to understand what happens socially to women (and others) who work in client-facing creative positions.

Between 2018- 2021 she examined the potential of creative collaboration across age and experience levels between multiple generations who work in the visual- and youth-focused NY fashion industry. She argues that intergenerational teams and mentoring across all ages will ensure that foundational practices continue for the next and subsequent generations.

 Graduation Day, Sanford Stadium, May 11, 2023, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Photo: Anne McInnis