Former NIKE Designer Plans to Open First HBCU Fashion Design School
Each day, black people make their mark in history by providing more opportunities for future generations to excel. The latest news in the fashion industry shows a promising future for those who desire to have a career in fashion and design. More doors will be opening for aspiring black designers, engineers, and business leaders, as former NIKE designer and founder of PENSOLE Design Academy, D’Wayne Edwards, announced in October that he plans to reopen Michigan’s first only HBCU in Detroit next year. Lewis College initially closed in 2013, as reported by Detroit News. It will be the first time an HBCU will reopen in the nation’s history. This HBCU will be different from others, as it’s solely focused on shoe design and apparel, which is a high need for students aspiring to start their careers in design and apparel.
The reopening of this school, which is called PENSOLE Lewis College of Business and Design, will not operate as a traditional college. Instead, students will have the option to sign up for certification courses to collaborate with well-known brands. Some of the brands involved with the school include NIKE, New Balance, Asics, Adidas, and many more.
While working with the brands, students will be able to shape their classes based on the projects they’ll work on. As mentioned earlier, PENSOLE Lewis College will only offer certificate programs, so if a student is interested in earning a degree, they have the option to “stack” their classes with the College for Creative Studies (CCS) to make them eligible for a diploma.
A complete course catalog at PENSOLE Lewis College will not be available until later this year. Enrollment begins in December, with the school’s first cohort starting in March 2022. The school will be temporarily housed at CCS A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education on Milwaukee Avenue in Detroit until a permanent home is found and developed.
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