The Coach Dream It Real x Pensole Lewis College Masterclass was Developed to Provide Design Certifications to Black and Brown Students Pursuing Careers in Fashion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DETROIT, MI – Feb. 7, 2023 – Pensole Lewis College (PLC), in partnership with the Coach Foundation, today announced the debut of the Coach Dream It Real x PLC Masterclass, a new, virtual six-week program for aspiring accessories and footwear designers that will remove socioeconomic barriers for traditionally underserved communities and communities of color by offering them a unique course of study within Coach’s New York City design studio. The masterclass is inspired by the Coach Foundation’s Dream It Real initiative and its mission to create opportunities and remove barriers for the next generation who have the courage to dream it real.
“Coach is an iconic and legendary brand in American fashion, known for timeless style and long-lasting quality,” PLC Founder and President Dr. D’Wayne Edwards said. “This masterclass was created to build a community of creative talent that may one day become a member of the Coach design team. Our goal with this program is to provide Coach talented, diverse designers who will bring new perspectives to an already esteemed brand.”
The program will feature up to 10 aspiring designers, whose tuition will be covered by the Coach Foundation, who will participate in a six-week, accelerated online accessories and footwear design masterclass from March 6 – April 14, with final presentations and in-person mentoring at Coach’s headquarters in New York City on April 21.
Coach Dream It Real x Pensole Lewis College Masterclass is a global talent search to discover and develop a community of aspiring designers with passions and stories that break the mold. This online masterclass will feature up to 10 aspiring designers who will reimagine design opportunities and business innovation of a Coach branded shoe and accessory focused on reusing Coach material scraps to help reduce waste. The students will be exposed to various personal and professional development lessons to help prepare them for a potential apprenticeship at Coach.
The masterclass will run from March 6 – April 14, with final presentations and in-person mentoring at Coach’s headquarters in New York City on April 21.
Registration is open through https://www.plcdetroit.com/coach/
Over the course of the six weeks, students will be exposed to a variety of personal and professional development lessons to help them prepare for a career in design.
Students will receive weekly instruction, but the program will function more like a design studio. This format allows students to experience what it is like working at a brand while developing their time management, professionalism, and leadership skills. Areas of instruction include:
- Design Process
- Design Sketching
- Design Briefs
- Problem Solving
- Visual Communication
- Verbal Communication
- Product Terminologies
- Color Strategy
- Material Design
- Material Fundamentals
- Merchandise Strategy
- Line Planning
- Market Research
- Time Management
- Business Conduct
- Personal Branding
- Professionalism
- Portfolio Development
- Professional Development
- Networking
At the end of the masterclass, all students will receive a Coach Certificate of Completion by PLC.
The class is open to Black and Brown students, 18 years and older, globally.
About the Coach Foundation
The Coach Foundation supports global philanthropic initiatives focused on community to help create a better future for all. Since its founding in 2008, the Coach Foundation has given more than $65 million to nonprofit partners all over the world.
In 2018, Coach launched Dream It Real, its core mission focused on helping young people around the world pursue their paths and purpose. Dream It Real’s mission is brought to life by a commitment to provide 5,000 scholarships by 2025 by partnering with nonprofits around the world working to address inequities in higher education faced by under-represented students.
About PLC
Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design is the pipeline for career education and professional development in the design industry. We are the source for creative vision and progress; bearing the torch to push the culture forward — beyond what’s visible. At Pensole Lewis College, we offer a new path to break into the world of product creation. We prepare the largest talent pool of designers to enter the industry empowering them to make it better for the next generation, leaving our industry better than when we entered it.
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