Advances in Sewn Product Technology

Anita Mitchell is Principal Lecturer and Head of the Fashion Section at Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University, which is one of the largest fashion schools in the UK and part of the Art and Design research centre which was ranked second in the UK for research power in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds both external examiner and principal external examining posts at other key fashion institutes in the UK. Having worked in Higher Education for nearly two decades lecturing in the areas of Fashion Product Development, Fashion Technology, Sewing Machine technology, Fashion Digital Technology and Automation, her interest in pedagogy led her to the role of Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning whilst leading on a variety of key projects such as the development of the fashion innovation lab within the Manchester Fashion Institute and a variety of Higher Education and curriculum related reviews. She is currently completing doctoral research towards an EdD whilst leading on a high-profile Digital strategy that is transforming Higher Education fashion curriculum and future proofing the graduate skills needed to support the ongoing digitalisation of the fashion industry. In terms of her writing and publication experience, Anita has contributed to a variety of fashion technology books and authored book chapters in areas that include Fashion Product Development, Fashion Technology and Advanced Joining Technology.

Anita began her career working as a designer for a well-known menswear brand in the UK and moved on as Product Developer for a leading British knitwear specialist whilst studying at London College of Fashion. This facilitated her career move to senior fit technologist and technical manager for one of the largest suppliers to the British Clothing Industry. Her product specialism spans light sewing, ladies & men's formal wear, casual wear, sports, and leisurewear. She has been involved in developing a variety of highly technical apparel products such as pre and post cure non-iron apparel, and wet processing techniques in some of world's most highly automated factories. She was also involved in trail blazing technologies such as seam-free bonding and welding technology and the use of 3D digital fit technology to support agile and sustainable product generation. She has developed apparel for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Ted Baker, and Hussein Chaylan. Her experience of offshore manufacturing afforded her the opportunity to work as a Technical Manager in many locations around the world, such as Portugal, Morocco, and Malaysia. Anita has also been fortunate to work alongside British Designers such as Katherine Hamnett when she supported the development of one of the first organic collections for Marks and Spencer Autograph range. This role also afforded her the opportunity to develop novel and innovative trims with some of the world's leading trimmings suppliers.