Detroit's Historic Pensole Lewis College Reopens with Foot Locker Partnership, Offering Free Footwear Design Program

The once-defunct Pensole Lewis College of Art and Design in Detroit has bounced back with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art footwear design studio, revolutionizing the academic landscape for aspiring shoe designers. In a collaboration that melds heritage with modernity, the historically Black college joined forces with sports retail giant Foot Locker to launch the "Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio," serving as a vibrant new hub for design innovation. The studio's unveiling attracted a host of Michigan's civic leaders including Detroit's Mayor Mike Duggan, billionaire Dan Gilbert, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, as The Detroit News reported.

D'Wayne Edwards, the founder and president of the college and renowned footwear designer, stated that the free education model was a decision to ensure equitable access for promising talents, "We ran that model for over 10 years in Portland, and making the education free," Edwards said in a statement obtained by clickondetroit, "So it was 100% free because I didn't want a kid like me to be left out." Addressing a gap in the city's educational offerings, the launch signifies more than a spatial expansion – it heralds a promise of nurturing the community's creative force in a city replete with industrial history yet burgeoning with artistic potential.

The school, which only reinstated its operations in 2022 following its 2015 closure due to dwindling enrollment and loss of accreditation, now not only provides a comprehensive learning environment but also ensures students step into paid internships with partnering enterprises. "Pensole changed my life in the best way, it has given me so many opportunities and work with different companies," Bryan Wilson, an alum of PLC Detroit, told clickondetroit. Edwards echoed this sentiment by highlighting the college's commitment to actualizing student designs into marketable products sold at local retailers.

The establishment of the studio within the inspiring surroundings of the Detroit Riverfront is not unique advantageous for the Pensole Lewis College community but is also emblematic of Detroit's perpetual striving to kindle innovation in downtown corridors that have witnessed both the zeniths and nadirs of American industry. As echoed by Dan Gilbert, "Detroit is a birthplace of innovation and creation – and this spirit thrives at Pensole as they continue inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and achievers," a sentiment captured by the Gilbert Family Foundation following the studio's festive ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gilbert's Foundation, along with the joining forces from retailers like Target, contributed to the resurgence of the college, injecting not only funds but faith into the hearts of Detroit's youthful creators.