Michael (Mikey) Smith (he/him), a Chicago based Designer, is a Senior at Columbia College Chicago, studying Fashion Design in their BFA program. He got his start in third grade when his third-grade teacher, Mrs. Fairfield, gifted him a sewing machine. Mikey has up-cycled countless garments for clients, friends, and family. He’s completed a number commission piece’s ranging from December 2022 to his most recent in Spring of 2024. Mikey has tailored a fashion show for Eugene Taylor at the Wonder Museum October 2023, spoken on a panel with RuPaul’s Drag race Winner, Shea Couleé; speaking on our perspectives of Fashion in the Queer community, and created a piece for Chicago’s Gourmet week incorporating materials provided by the Tie Bar. In the future Mikey would like to have his own brand, the direction of said brand has yet TBD.