Biography:
Graduated with degree in Product Design from North Carolina State University School of Design in 1981.Began experimenting with textile surface design techniques while working for a Raleigh North Carolina design company during the mid 1980s. After returning to the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina in 1986, started Mystic Eye, a company devoted to small scale production and wholesale of Shibori on cotton sportswear,
eventually adding a retail gallery featuring wearable fiber art clothing.Developed unique methods and equipment for production surface design on T-shirts featuring multiple discharge and Shibori processes. Founded Icon Inc. in 1994, a company dedicated to large quantity T-shirt dyeing for the imprinted sportswear industry. After producing thousands of dozens of garments, the business and process was sold two years later to a Maryland company. Featured in two books by Lark Press; “”The Great T-Shirt Book”” (1992) and “”The Ultimate T-Shirt Book”” (1998). Now a (mysterious) Cult hero for making the world’s ultimate Tie Dye clothing. The work evolved to finer wearables in silks, rayons and velvets now sold under the label Manifest Color. Michael Smith currently resides in Asheville North Carolina with his fourteen year-old son Gabriel.
