BSU Fashion Design Student Wins Top Spot in Target’s HBCU Design Challenge

Apparel designed by Sharone Townsend sold as part of Target’s Black History Month Collection

 

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University senior Sharone Townsend is one of three HBCU students whose artwork has been chosen for Target's Black Beyond Measure HBCU Design Challenge. As one of the contest winners, Townsend’s design is featured on apparel sold by Target nationwide in recognition of Black History Month.

The Black Beyond Measure collection, sourced entirely by black creators, is available now online and in stores. Winners of the design challenge also received a $3,000 cash prize, an Apple Mac Book Pro, Snapchat AR Spectacle glasses and access to a UX Design Course valued at $4000.

The message behind the Maryland native’s winning t-shirt design is simple: Unity. “My goal was to illustrate different colors coming together. I thought it would be cool to have some of the hands brown, with the red, black and green and the African print behind it," he said.

"When I submitted this, I already knew it was going to be a hit. I knew it would be something that could be worn all year-round, not just during Black History Month."

For Townsend, who is set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications & Digital Media Arts with a concentration in Fashion Design, this recognition is the culmination of years of hard work and a dream that started as a teenager.

"It's amazing because I've always wanted to design and see my items in stores. I started tweaking clothes in high school to fit my own personal taste and eventually began researching manufacturers to get samples made.” Today, in addition to having his talent showcased in the collection at Target, he is also the founder of his own fashion brand, Stranger than Nature.

Hands-on training and support from Bowie State’s expert fashion professors have given him the skills needed to expand his creative vision and his business. And with one semester left, he's looking forward to learning a few more things before he crosses the stage. “The future is digital, so I’m really looking forward to my Computer-aided Design (CAD) class. The technology allows you to create 3D models and even take measurements of people without even touching them – which is great since we’re still in a pandemic.”

He is also preparing to enter the BSU Entrepreneurship Academy’s annual Idea Pitch Competition, where he will get one-on-one coaching and build relationships with successful business owners who can offer tools and guidance to help grow his fashion business.

Looking back, Townsend says it’s the relationships that he has cultivated with faculty that have been the most impactful during his BSU career. “I spent so much time talking to them about fashion and getting valuable advice. A lot of them are still working in the industry while they teach. There's so much to learn.”

No matter what lies ahead, Townsend’s creative skills, technical experience and real-world industry exposure he is receiving through the partnership with Target has prepared him for a bold future. "There aren't a lot of black faces in the field of fashion design. I plan to give my perspective, shake up current trends and create my own spin on what's out there."

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.