Fashion & Product Designer
Two decades of creating and directing apparel, sportswear and lifestyle collections across Australia, the United States and international markets.
Selected Work
Brands & Collections- 01 Russell Athletic Senior Designer — Current Present
- 02 Burton Snowboards Technical Outerwear Action Sports
- 03 Analog Apparel Design Action Sports
- 04 SPY Optics Brand & Product California
- 05 Rip Curl Sportswear Australia
- 06 Slazenger Heritage Sport Commercial
- 07 Mooks Lifestyle Australia
Spanning technical outerwear, sportswear, casual collections, workwear, accessories and brand experiences — combining a refined design sensibility with deep expertise in product development, sourcing and commercial strategy.
About
(Melbourne, VIC)Michael Haythornthwaite is a Melbourne-based fashion and product designer whose work spans apparel, accessories, luggage, jewellery and brand development across Australia and international markets.
Beginning his career in Melbourne before working internationally, Haythornthwaite developed experience across a broad spectrum of fashion and product disciplines, ranging from premium lifestyle and contemporary fashion through to technical sportswear, performance apparel and specialised product categories. His work has included clothing, bags, backpacks, graphics, accessories and jewellery, with involvement extending from concept creation and design direction through to sourcing, supplier development, product management and production.
Throughout his career he has worked with internationally recognised brands including Russell Athletic, Burton Snowboards, Analog, SPY, Rip Curl and Mooks, contributing across design, product and commercial leadership roles. His experience spans both vertically integrated retail and wholesale businesses, with a focus on developing collections and product systems that combine creative direction with strong commercial outcomes.
Known for his broad understanding of product creation and manufacturing, Haythornthwaite's practice brings together aesthetics, technical knowledge and market awareness, working across categories and industries while maintaining a consistent focus on thoughtful and enduring design.
Based in Melbourne, he continues to work across fashion and product, developing collections and brand experiences that sit between performance, culture and contemporary design.