Big Sean and PLC Founder Dr. Dwayne Edwards during fireside chat at Black Footwear Forum (Image courtesy of PepsiCo)
The buzz of excitement filled the air at Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC), where sneaker enthusiasts and aspiring designers gathered for a weekend celebrating more than just footwear; it honored legacy. Visions and collaborations came to life as the Black Footwear Forum transformed the campus into a lively hub of creativity, connecting the next generation of design innovators with industry legends.
The highlight? A groundbreaking debut of PLC’s first-ever student capsule collection, sponsored by PepsiCo and co-created with Detroit native Big Sean, whose journey from the city streets to the global stage is a testament to the power of dreams and collaboration in elevating Black voices within the footwear industry.
Big Sean emphasized the next generation of designers and youth from Detroit, keeping the momentum going by staying passionate and doing things for the right reasons with integrity.
(L-R) Designer Baiyinah Ings, Big Sean and PLC Founder Dr. Dwayne Edwards (Image courtesy of PepsiCo)
“I am so proud of everybody from the city. It takes a lot to be from a place like Detroit and be successful,” Big Sean expressed.
“I realized what success actually means. And it’s feeling good, being happy with the product and the things you’re doing with your life. And Detroit is very successful right now as a city.”
In 2023, PepsiCo made a special three-year agreement with PLC to support more Black designers and bring diverse perspectives into the design industry. As part of this partnership, PepsiCo’s Design team provides resources and apprenticeships to help local young designers from PLC to bring their designs to life.
“Detroit is embedded with creativity, historically just in every sense, not just style, clothes, and fashion, but style, music, and originators. A lot of people get their styles from us,” Big Sean said.
Earlier this year, twelve students from PLC participated in a four-week masterclass organized by PepsiCo Design + Innovation. The masterclass was designed to help the students enhance their design skills by applying them to real-world scenarios.
Concentrating on creating PLC’s first-ever merchandise collection with mentorship from PepsiCo designers, each student designed a capsule collection consisting of four distinct pieces that captured the essence of PLC and emphasized the school’s core values: Pride, Legacy, and Culture.
Big Sean and Designer Baiyinah Ings (Image courtesy of PepsiCo)
The public voted, and the winner, designer Baiyinah Ings, will have her collection produced and sold by PLC with sponsorship from PepsiCo. Attendees at the Black Footwear Forum had the opportunity to purchase some of her collection onsite. Ings full collection will be available on PLC website later this season.
“I feel absolutely amazing after this weekend. I couldn’t have imagined my vision coming to life in a better way, and the fact that I got to meet Big Sean and understand his own creative journey a bit more was just the icing on the cake,” Ings said.
This year, the program received additional support from Big Sean, who took an opportunity to meet Ings one-on-one and see her designs. He also delivered a captivating fireside chat at the Black Footwear Forum, where he shared insights into his journey, discussed Detroit’s design renaissance, highlighted the leading role of Black creatives in the industry, and expressed his passion for empowering the next generation of Black designers in collaboration with PepsiCo and PLC.
“I love the winner (Baiyinah) of this contest from today with the design she had with all of her clothes, the varsity, and just the attention to detail that went into it,” Big Sean said.
“I think it’s really impressive to design clothes.”
This collaboration with PLC is dedicated to nurturing a new wave of innovative and forward-thinking individuals. By bringing together aspiring young designers and seasoned experts, it aims to create a platform that facilitates the exchange of ideas and expertise.
“The collection has gotten so much positive feedback so far and I’m just happy that people actually love my work. I’m grateful for Pensole, PepsiCo, and the Black Footwear Forum for giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing what the future may bring!” Ings expressed.
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