University of North Texas 
Naming of the Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design Program
Before the official unveiling of the Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design Program at the College of Visual Arts and Design, a number of clients and friends came together to share their heartfelt thoughts and reflections. In this video, they express their admiration for Michael Faircloth’s legacy and their support for the program that now bears his name. The unveiling ceremony took place on March 29, 2025, in the UNT Art Building.
UNT Names First-Ever Program in College of Visual Arts and Design for Celebrated Fashion Alum Michael W. Faircloth
For the first time in the College of Visual Arts and Design’s 132-year history at
the University of North Texas, the college is proud to announce a named program: the
Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design Program.
A fifth-generation Texan, Faircloth is a North Texas alumnus who, in 1983, earned
a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in fashion design. He serves on
the CVAD Advancement Board and is also the namesake of the CVAD Michael Faircloth
Scholarship in Fashion Design.
Over the past 43 years, his Dallas custom couture company, Michael Faircloth Designs, has created exquisite garments for socialites throughout the United States. He is
at the global forefront of society designing for celebrities including entertainer
Cher. The gown Faircloth designed for former First Lady Laura Bush, which she wore to the 2001 inaugural ball of her husband, 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush, is on permanent display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The Texas Fashion Collection, part of UNT's College of Visual Arts and Design, includes dozens of Faircloth's original designs and sketches. These garments are
frequently featured in exhibitions and serve as valuable resources for students and
researchers.
UNT friends, faculty and Faircloth’s clients officially unveiled the Michael W. Faircloth
Fashion Design Program during a March 29 ceremony in the UNT Art Building. UNT President
Harrison Keller called the designer’s work and commitment to excellence as “inspirational,” adding
that there’s no one better than Michael Faircloth for whom we can name the fashion
design program.
More than eight years ago, Faircloth spearheaded a campaign among his friends and
clients, which raised $1.25 million to name CVAD’s fashion design program. Graduate
students and faculty will use the gift in part to help fund graduate student and faculty
research and student scholarships. It will also cover faculty professional memberships
and student competition costs.
“My hope is that the Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design at the University of North
Texas will continue to inspire students to do their very best,” Faircloth said. “Texas
is well known as a fashion capital and I want our program to continue to be at the
forefront of fashion design, teaching students how to design clothing, be wonderful
artists and express themselves.”
“By honoring Michael Faircloth in this way, we reinforce CVAD’s commitment to nurturing
innovative, world-class designers who are ready to make an impact on a global scale,”
CVAD Dean Karen Hutzel said. “As an alumnus, his journey from student to internationally recognized designer
exemplifies the creative excellence we strive to instill in our students. His legacy
serves as an inspiration, showing our students that their dreams are achievable and
that their work can shape the future of fashion.”
UNT alumna Lisa Troutt (’85) met Faircloth at UNT in the early 1980s when the two were studying fashion
design. A longtime Faircloth client, she and her husband, entrepreneur Kenny Troutt, made a sizable contribution to establishing the Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design
Program.
“It’s important to give back to things that have given so much to you. North Texas
has given so much to me. I know it’s given so much to Michael,” Lisa Troutt said.
“Future students will look at the Michael W. Faircloth Fashion Design Program and
want to get to know who he is. When they learn that he was a student right here just
like they are and seeing all that he’s accomplished, it’s going to be inspiring to
students.”
April 4, 2025: At the ForeFront of Fashion Design, UNT North Texan Article by Lisa Sciortino
April 11, 2025: Happy Friday, North Texas Interview of Michael Faircloth
For more information about the B.F.A. or M.F.A. in Fashion Design, please visit the
CVAD Department of Design web page.