Design 2 Manufacturing Fellowship
MEET THE 2026 WinnerS
Emily sioma
kip studios
sydni warner
duey
Sydni C. Warner, M.S., aka The Duey Dealer, is a Detroit-based designer and artist who transforms traditional Black hair protection products into wearable art. Shaped by her personal experience with PCOS-related hair loss and using the sewing skills her mother taught her, she founded The Duey Dealer, a Black woman-owned brand that merges hair care, fashion, and cultural storytelling.
Holding a Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan, Sydni incorporates sustainability and creative reuse into her work, often combining traditional fabrics with unexpected materials. Through bold designs that move bonnets and durags from the bedroom to the runway and art galleries, she challenges stigma and reimagines hair protection as an act of self-care, empowerment, and liberation.
ABOUT THE D2M Fellowship
ISAIC’s Design2Manufacturing program offers two competitive fellowship opportunities to introduce designers to the process of bringing their designs to life through an advanced manufacturing project. Supported by JP Morgan Chase Bank, the goal of the program is to expand access to ISAIC equipment and expertise to support local fashion designers.
Over the Course of 6 Months, PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE $10,000 AND…
Master the Basics
They’ll learn the basics of industrial sewing and product design through the latest technologies and innovations available through ISAIC.
Deepen knowledge
They will deepen their knowledge of the skills and processes needed to sustainably and efficiently direct the manufacturing of their products.
GAIN access to Expert advice
They’ll have access to industry experts to guide them on pattern making, pricing, business development, and more to prepare them to manufacture a sample run of their own custom product.
Want to learn more?
Watch our D2M Info Video where ISAIC staff walking you through the process for selecting two individuals or small teams for the exclusive six-month D2M fellowship.
The video is full of additional details and commonly asked FAQs, which is important to watch prior to signing up for the program or attending the live info sessions in February. You can sign up for the info session below.
Then, sign up for a conversation with ISAIC about the Design2Manufacturing (D2M) Grant and to receive personalized feedback on your project ideas!
Participants should bring any project specific samples, materials, tech packs, etc. for review. Sessions can either be in-person at ISAIC or virtual and must be specified upon registration and will last for approximately 30 minutes.
If no available date or time works for you, please reach out to communications@isaic.org
timeline
FEBRUARY 9, 2026
Call Opens
MARCH 29, 2026
Call Closes
JUNE 5, 2026
Winners Notified
JUNE 15, 2026
Program Starts
SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
Milestone 1: Prototype Ready for Feedback Session
DECEMBER 18, 2026
Milestone 2: Sample Ready for Small Batch Production
APRIL 2027
Participation in ISAIC Honors
2026 Jurors
josh york
Josh York is the founder of Soft Goods knitwear factory and brand in Corktown, Detroit. He also Co-founded and manages operations for Aaron Levine New York.
loren hicks
Loren Hicks is the founder of Michigan Fashion Week and a Detroit-based creative leader known for building platforms that elevate fashion, culture, and sustainability. With over a decade of experience, she creates impactful experiences that connect designers, artists, and communities through storytelling and innovation.
rey benedict pador
Rey Pador is a fashion designer and pattern maker. Born and raised in Germany to Filipino immigrant parents, Rey's sense of identity, belonging and community reflects in his work as a creative and teacher. Classically trained at 15 years old as a dressmaker in Germany. After working in commercial fashion design and manufacturing, he then in 2012 achieved his BA and MA in fashion design from the prestigious Royal Academy of fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium.
He moved on to work for high fashion brands in Antwerp, New York and Paris such as Marc Jacobs, Dries Van Noten and Balenciaga. He later created his own company called GHOST where he worked behind the scenes for multiple designers such as Stefano Pilati, Haider Ackermann, Julien Dossena and Demna Gvasalia.
His passion for teaching led him to fully commit to teaching in Belgium, Germany, India and USA. He is currently heading the Fashion Department at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and is committed to create and nurture designers under the same ideology of identity, belonging and community.
Who is eligible?
Detroit or Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw county residents
Not current employee or contractor of ISAIC
Must have an active business that is not currently manufacturing domestically
Must be eligible to receive taxable income (SSN, ITIN, EIN)
Must be 18+ years old
Open to individuals or small (2-3 people) teams
