PLC Detroit opened the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Stu/deo in a Bedrock-owned building at 200 Walker Street in Detroit, MI, offering shoemaking workshops, sample-making services, small footwear production capabilities, and more.
“We are honored to unveil the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Stu/deo at our new campus,” said Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, PLC Detroit President. “This space will inspire the next generation of footwear creators and design visionaries, providing them with the resources and education to excel in the industry.”
PLC Detroit’s mission is to lead and empower the progressive creatives in the Black community to create a better individual and collective future.
The new stu/deo features over 5,000 square feet with views of the Detroit River, exemplifying the PLC Detroit vision—education is about fostering the belief that anything is possible.
“We’re thrilled to once again partner with PLC Detroit to foster innovation and promote diversity in design through the opening of the Foot Locker Footwear Creation Stu/deo,” said Elliott Rodgers, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Foot Locker. “This space further demonstrates our commitment to invest in and provide opportunities for creatives to excel in the fashion industry.”
PLC Detroit was founded with the support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, which provided the school with $10 million over five years as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Detroit residents with pathways to job opportunities in high-demand industries. Target was also a founding partner through its REACH strategy. PLC Detroit reported that since its rebirth in 2022, it “has graduated hundreds of future designers.”
“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,” said Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Rocket Companies and the Gilbert Family Foundation. “Dr. Edwards’ passion, experience and love of design are unmatched. His work with innovators like Michael Jordan, Nike and others helps PLC students become the designers of tomorrow. Today’s announcement with Foot Locker is another example of the pathways to success that Detroit’s HBCU is opening for students in our city.”
Image courtesy Foot Locker
