Carhartt to Partner with Pensole Lewis College of Business and design for Inaugural Masterclass
February 20, 2022
Prospective students can submit their application at www.pensolelewiscollege.com. Applications close on March 6, 2022.
“We are honored to partner with Carhartt, such an iconic Detroit brand. Together, with the team at Carhartt, we developed this Masterclass for the next generation of creators to design, build and commercialize functional apparel and footwear that works as hard as those who wear it,” Pensole Lewis College founder and president Dr. D’Wayne Edwards said. “We thank Carhartt for sharing our vision of lighting the pathway for the next generation to see what is possible.”
Carhartt x Pensole Lewis College is an in-person, four-week class in Detroit, where students will work in teams of four—comprising aspiring designers in footwear, color/materials, apparel, and accessories—to create “future uniforms to inspire modern functionality.” Carhartt associates will provide guidance and mentoring throughout the program and familiarize the students with the Carhartt Consumer-Led Design Process. After the class is completed, a selection of top students will be offered a summer internship with Carhartt.
Students will select a career focus and create head-to-toe solutions for workers in that industry, focusing on their functional needs, with the goal that their research and designs will inform other in-line products at Carhartt.
The Masterclass begins on May 2, 2022 in the new Violet T. Lewis PLC STU/DEO by MillerKnoll, located on the College for Creative Studies campus. CCS has been instrumental to navigating the administrative and legal processes required to re-open Pensole Lewis College.
“Carhartt has been committed to the city of Detroit since our founding more than 130 years ago, so when the opportunity to help lead a future generation of designers in partnership with Pensole Lewis College presented itself, we never hesitated – it was the perfect opportunity to create a pathway for success in the industry, while promoting the creative spirit of a city we’ve called home since 1889,” said Alex Guerrero, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Global Product at Carhartt. “We look forward to connecting with the students and inspiring them to design adaptive, versatile gear for hardworking men and women.”
About Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC)
The Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design is the name chosen to be used by the Lewis College of Business, the first and only HBCU in the State of Michigan.
The Lewis College of Business was originally founded by Dr. Violet T. Lewis. Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, founder of the Pensole Design Academy in Oregon, is working to reinstate the Lewis College of Business in Detroit. Pensole Lewis College, in collaboration with the College for Creative Studies (CCS), will offer programs across design, sustainability, business, STEM, and more, serving young Black creatives across industries. The Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design is supported with philanthropic contributions from Target and the Gilbert Family Foundation. For more information please visit www.pensolelewiscollege.com.
About Carhartt
Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with more than 5,000 associates worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.
