Michelle Burton

Biography

Dr. Michelle Burton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art & Design with over 20 years of industry experience in retail buying, planning, and allocation. Her passion for retail and education drives her commitment to preparing students for successful careers in the evolving fashion industry.
 

Her research focuses on sustainable clothing consumption, apparel repurposing, and circular fashion practices. Her scholarship examines the motivations and behaviors that extend the life of clothing, cross-cultural differences in sustainable consumption, and the connections between textile-making, creativity, and well-being.
 

Michelle has published research in Sustainability, Fashion Practice, the International Journal of Home Economics, and The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts. She serves on the editorial board of Humanities and Social Sciences Communications and is actively engaged in professional organizations, including the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) and American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA).

Inspired by her industry experience, Dr. Burton emphasizes experiential learning, industry partnerships, and community engagement to prepare students for the evolving fashion and retail landscape.

Ph.D., Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management with a focus on consumer behavior and sustainability, Iowa State University 
M.S., Merchandising, University of North Texas 
B.B.A., Marketing, University of Houston 

Currently teaching: 

SEED 111 Fashion, Resources, and Environmental Impact
ARTX 298 Textiles 
ARTX 310 Fashion Retailing Mathematics 
ARTX 325 Fashion Marketing 

 

Resume/CV

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Research

consumer's engagement in sustainability practices, connection between sustainability behaviors and well-being, circular business models and educational technology platforms encouraging sustainability practices, supply chain practices impact on people and overall sustainability initiatives 

 

Publications

Eike, R., Hashemian, B., Burton, M., Hustvedt, G., & Cho, S. (2026). External drivers of apparel repurposing: A multilevel analysis linking skills, motivations, and repurposing pathways. Journal of Sustainability Research, 8(1), Article e260017. https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20260017 

Burton, M., Hwang, J. Y., & Hausknecht, B. (2025). Making to heal: Well-being through textile crafting. The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, 21(1), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.18848/2326-9960/CGP/v21i01/33-49

Burton, M., & Eike, R. J. (2025). I have no unwanted items: Prolonging the lifespan of clothing through a proposed expansion of the product lifecycle in the Engel-Blackwell-Miniard (EBM) consumer decision-making model. Fashion Practice, 17(1), 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/17569370.2024.2433111

Burton, M., & Eike, R. (2023). The sustainability-conscious consumer: An exploration of the motivations, values, beliefs, and norms guiding garment life extension practices. Sustainability, 15(15), Article 12033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512033