DETROIT – Carhartt is known for making clothing built to withstand the demands of a job site.
Now, students at a Detroit design college are getting the opportunity to learn how to create that kind of apparel themselves.
Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, also known as PLC Detroit, held a ribbon-cutting Monday, Sept. 21, for its new Carhartt Apparel Lab, a workshop designed to give students hands-on experience designing and developing functional workwear.
The space features industry-standard equipment and materials that allow students to move beyond the concept stage and test whether their designs can actually be produced.
Carhartt Vice President of Global Product Design Ben Ewy said the goal was to create a functional space where students can develop skills that translate directly to the workplace.
“It’s one thing to design something great. It’s another thing to make it so that it can be made,” Ewy said.
Students work with pattern pieces, muslin, body forms and Carhartt materials while learning about construction, fit and material selection.
The emphasis is on functionality as much as appearance.
“We want to make sure our students not only have a firm understanding of what’s possible when you create, but there’s a difference between good and great,” PLC Detroit President Dwayne Edwards said.
Edwards said the partnership with Carhartt fits the college’s focus on workforce development and preparing students for careers in the creative industries.
The relationship between Carhartt and PLC Detroit began several years ago with a design project exploring how to incorporate athletic performance into work products.
The partnership later expanded to master classes, mentorships and employment opportunities.
Ewy said several PLC graduates have gone on to work at Carhartt in design and product development.
The new lab is intended to build on that relationship by giving current students access to the kinds of tools and processes they will encounter in the industry.
“This is not art projects. This is real work,” Ewy said.
For students, the lab offers a chance to gain experience with equipment and materials that might otherwise be difficult to access.
Second-year student Leah Massey said the space offers a look at what working in the industry could be like.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to kind of be introduced to the actual industry,” Massey said.
Massey said she hopes to use what she learns at PLC Detroit to become a better designer and learn from experienced professionals.
Fellow student Chris Pizana said having access to industry-standard equipment can help students become familiar with the tools they will encounter after graduation.
“It’s just really important to be familiar with the right materials,” Pizana said.
For second-year student Sydney Dean, the new space makes her career goals feel more tangible.
“Being able to work in this space just gives me a tangible sort of environment that proves that my dreams and my passions are real,” Dean said.
Dean is currently developing a senior design project featuring a trench coat that can be converted into a tote bag.
She said she is testing the design with muslin to determine how the pattern pieces fit together and which textiles will best meet the project’s needs.
The lab also reflects a broader shift toward performance and versatility in apparel, Ewy said. He said younger workers increasingly expect clothing to provide comfort, stretch and performance both on and off the job.
For Carhartt, the partnership also provides an opportunity to learn from the next generation of designers.
“We feel like we learn more than we give sometimes,” Ewy said, pointing to students’ fresh perspectives and new approaches to design.
The company, which Ewy described as a Detroit-founded business with more than a century of history, views the partnership as part of its connection to the city and its creative community.
The new lab is designed to give students a place to experiment, solve problems, and develop products that can ultimately move from an idea to production.
For Pizana, the message to other young people interested in design is simple: Stay curious.
“There are a lot of different lanes out there,” he said. “So stay curious and just see what’s out there. You never know.”
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