$20K awarded across three Detroit designers ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
2026 eugenie Designer Grant
meet the recipients
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After a thoughtful review process, we are excited to announce the three recipients of the 2026 eugenie Designer Grant.
This year marked our largest and most competitive applicant pool to date. Finalists were selected based on design, quality, impact, and feasibility, with three recipients ultimately selected following presentations to our panel.
These Detroit-based designers are pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion, exploring innovative materials and crafting thoughtful, future-focused collections.
In partnership with Song United, this year’s grant has been expanded to $20,000 in total funding, awarded across three Detroit-based designers or brands focused on environmental and social sustainability. The first-place recipient will also receive professional mentorship from our panel of industry leaders.
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First-Place: $10,000
Mollie Decker & Michael Sklenka
Object Apparel
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Object Apparel is an all-gender clothing brand rooted in North Corktown, Detroit, where design and production exist under one roof. Founded in 2015, the label works exclusively with organically grown and ethically produced materials, shaping them into adaptable, enduring garments. Each piece is cut, sewn, and naturally dyed in their self-designed studio. The work reflects the founders’ architectural training, grounded in material integrity and endless adaptability.
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Second-Place: $6,000
Donovan Dewberry
Donovan Dewberry Bridal
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Inspired by couture, Detroit designer Donovan Dewberry is known for bold, voluminous silhouettes. The work reimagines the gown as a site of imaginative world-making, amplifying personal narrative through form and scale. Dewberry has brought this vision to runways and exhibitions across the country, including the Gucci Changemakers Initiative here in Detroit. His unique contribution to sustainable bridal design marries romantic memory with intentional making.
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Third-Place: $4,000
Emily Sioma
KIP Studio
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KIP Studio is a multi-faceted brand based in Detroit, Michigan, focused on altering, sewing, and innovating with textiles. Best known for its upcycled stem bags, KIP gives discarded textiles new life as thoughtful carriers for flowers. Each stem bag, bouquet cover, and floral charm is hand-sewn and designed for daily use. Whether at the market or in a meadow, KIP Studio keeps the earth close at hand.
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Congratulations to all the 2026 eugenie Designer Grant Finalists!
These talented Detroit-based designers are redefining sustainable fashion, exploring innovative materials, and creating timeless capsule collections. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
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Ali Evans
GODNII: The Blueprint of Heaven
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Brynn Michel
Poppy Work Wear
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Marc Mamon
IATW (I Am The World)
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Phillip Hebert &
Samantha Pohlen-Hebert
Dos Jefes Garments
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Thank you to our 2026 panel
For their time, thoughtful review, and ongoing support
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Photography by: The Kismet Collective
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ABOUT THE GRANT
The eugenie Designer Grant seeks to elevate Detroit-based design by providing local creatives with financial and professional support for projects focused on environmental and/or social sustainability.
Through eugenie’s ongoing efforts, including pop-ups, workshops, and collaborations, our team continues to foster a vibrant, sustainable fashion industry in Detroit.
This grant is a natural extension of eugenie’s commitment to nurturing a sustainable future through conscious design and ongoing innovation in the fashion industry.
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Visit us at 1400 Van Dyke, Detroit, MI
Monday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
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