Biography
Michael is Senior Teaching Fellow on the MA Fashion Design programme at Winchester School of Art, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. He joined the university in 2021, bringing with him a wealth of industry experience and over a decade of running his own freelance consultancy business within fashion and textile design, spanning the UK, Europe, Asia, the US and Canada. For many years, he also designed and produced his own bespoke menswear label, Michael James, fusing his signature approach to creative tailoring and deconstruction within contemporary men’s apparel.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked with a diverse range of brands and design houses, from luxury, high-end labels to leading high street brands. His expertise as a tailor and creative technical pattern cutter is complemented by a strong sensitivity to contemporary aesthetics and design innovation. Beyond his specialist disciplines, Michael has extensive experience across related areas of fashion, including styling, merchandising, brand-building, graphics and film.
Deeply passionate about the creative arts within higher education, Michael is dedicated to fostering an inspiring, inclusive and supportive environment for all students. His teaching philosophy centres on creativity, craftsmanship, and the development of each designer’s unique identity and positioning within the evolving landscape of global fashion. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), demonstrating his commitment to teaching excellence and academic standards.
Michael is currently Module Leader across all three terms of study on the MA Fashion Design programme; Contextual Practice, Creative Experimentation: Pre-Collection and Final Major Project.
Leadership roles outside of teaching:
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Department Lead for Fashion & Textiles
- Academic Responsibility & Conduct (ARC) Department Lead Officer
- Athena Swan SAT Board