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Abstract
Technological advancements, the prevalence of digital media, and shifting age demographics in the U.S. workforce dominate most of the economic, environmental, and social aspects of our work lives. This is particularly evident in Manhattan, New York City, New York (NY), the heart of the U.S. fashion, apparel, and textile industry. Up until the 21st century, the once-self-contained industry relied on foundational operational practices that had remained unchanged for over 200 years. However, since the late 1970s domestic operations such as cut-and-sew, product development, and manufacturing were gradually chipped away by the lure of lower labor and production costs in the Global South. Digital and automated technologies designed to increase productivity led to a significant contraction of the industry’s often older and skilled workforce. Together with trade policies, these situational factors brought about the dismantling of U.S. factories and the gradual demise or reduction of fully staffed NY design, product development, and marketing corporate headquarters. After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the NY Garment Center suffered its greatest decrease in employment, leading to additional economic and labor losses. The 21st-century U.S. workplace presents a unique historical situation in which as many as five generations may work side by side. Due to increasing life expectancies and people delaying retirement for social or financial reasons, a multigenerational workplace is becoming increasingly normal. As digital natives, most younger workers are equipped with the latest technology skills, but they lack soft skills and tacit knowledge that can only be acquired over time and through experience. To maintain creative practices and facilitate knowledge transfer between generational cohorts, this dissertation suggests that the fashion industry embraces the concept of an inclusive, age-diverse workforce. My work challenges the industry’s problem with ageism and its extreme focus on youthfulness. In the three studies that follow I examine the potential of creative collaboration across age and experience levels between multiple generations who work in the visual- and youth-focused NY fashion and textiles industry. I argue that intergenerational teams and mentoring across all ages will ensure that foundational practices continue for the next and subsequent generations.