How do gender policy, culture, and the global apparel supply chain intersect—and what does innovation look like inside that complexity?
In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders sits down with Dr. Cydni Robertson, scholar, storyteller, and global researcher whose work explores gender inequality, political change, and labor conditions within the global fashion and apparel industry.
Dr. Robertson shares her journey from early experiences in fashion and textile education to earning her doctorate and conducting Fulbright-funded research in El Salvador, where she interviewed women working in apparel factories. She reflects on how witnessing labor conditions reshaped her research agenda and deepened her commitment to people-centered innovation in fashion systems.
⚫In this conversation, you will learn:
◾What Dr. Robertson discovered about women’s labor, opportunity, and resilience in global apparel supply chains
◾How Fulbright research and living abroad transformed her perspective as a scholar and educator
◾Why experiential learning and global research matter for fashion and textile education
◾How social sustainability goes beyond materials to include people, policy, and culture
◾Lessons for students and scholars interested in international research and ethical fashion systems
◾Practical advice for conducting research abroad, building community, and prioritizing safety
Dr. Robertson also shares insights on personal branding in academia, building community through social media, and how storytelling can expand the public impact of scholarly work. Whether you are a student, researcher, educator, designer, or innovator, this episode offers a powerful lens on how innovation emerges at the intersection of fashion, policy, culture, and lived experience.
⚫Connect with Cydni
◾LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cydnimrobertson/
◾TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.cydrobertson
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