PLC Detroit Launches a Product Creation Pathway for Women With Help From New Balance

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PLC Detroit — the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) focused on design — is set to debut a product creation pathway with women at the forefront, and experts at New Balance will play a major role of the effort.

The initiative, titled “Women In Industries” (W.IN @ PLC), will focus on the three core design disciplines of the school: Apparel Design, Color & Material Design and Footwear Design. Students, according to PLC Detroit, will work on a project centered on women in performance, designing for athletes “leading the charge across sports categories.”

According to PLC Detroit, New Balance designers and the school’s industry expert educators will help students “refine their design skills and develop essential competencies such as time management, professionalism and leadership.” This experience, PLC Detroit stated, will expose them “to the thrilling world of sports design while allowing them to contribute to New Balance’s rich legacy of innovation and excellence in athletic performance and artistic expression.”

What’s more, PLC Detroit stated it will share the stories of students “whose diverse backgrounds and design journeys reflect the essence of the certificate program.”

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“By providing our students with unparalleled access and training from industry leaders, we’re equipping the next generation of women designers and innovators with the tools to thrive,” Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, president of PLC Detroit, said in a statement.

The certificate program will span four weeks, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 20, and PLC Detroit and New Balance will cover tuition and housing.

Aside from W.IN @ PLC, the HBCU has made headlines as of late, most recently for the opening of its design studio honoring Wilson Smith III , who is recognized as the industry’s first Black sneaker designer. The Wilson Smith III Footwear Design Stu/deo by MillerKnoll and Nike was unveiled on July 15.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

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