The College for Creative Studies Mourns the Loss of Board of Trustees Member and Detroit Fashion Legend, Linda Dresner. Linda passed away on March 30, 2026.
As a longtime member of both the Board of Trustees and the Fashion Advisory Council at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit native Linda Dresner did more than advise; she championed the future of design. Her belief in the transformative power of education lives on through the Linda Dresner Endowed Chair, ensuring the support of the College’s Fashion Design program and its chair position in perpetuity.
Linda spent four decades as a visionary in the fashion industry running two influential, avant-garde boutiques in Birmingham, Michigan and New York City. She embodied the very core of CCS: a rare combination of fearless creativity and flawless craft.
Her work in fashion retail has been lauded by many. In a 2021 New York Times piece about her, Ikram Goldman, owner of the Chicago boutique Ikram, was quoted as saying: “For her, it wasn’t about clothes. It’s about the hunt of discovering that next talent. To me, that was her magic. That was her special sauce. She was always after the hunt and always had her ears and eyes so wide open so as not to miss anything or anyone.”
Linda was the beloved wife of Edward C. Levy Jr. Cherished mother of Mark (Rena) Lewis and Steven (Amy Jo Miller) Lewis. Treasured grandmother of Samantha Lewis (Leo Reap), Lauren Lewis (Connor Flanigan), Ryan Lewis, and Alex Lewis. Adoring great-grandmother of Noah Lewis-Reap and Ava Lewis-Reap. Loving sister of Tisha Roth and the late Richard Varkle.
A service honoring Linda’s life will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Ira Kaufman Chapel. Those wishing to further honor the memory of Linda Dresner may do so by making a contribution to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD).
