Not much separates sneakers from the crowd more than a 1 of 1 custom design. Some customizers rely on small runs of multiple pairs usually lacking intricate detail while others make it their bread and butter to bring the detail in something only one person could have. Finally we’ve made the effort to share some of the involute of work from United Kingdom based sneaker customizer Benji Blunt in this adidas Superstar 80s titled Dragons. [more]
The jumps a few recon sneaker customizers have made in the past year have been huge. Moving away from the classic silhouettes of a Dunk or Air Force 1 to more technical sneakers. One who is steadily rising ahead of the pack of sneaker customizers in general is that of JBF Customs. His latest resume builder is a complete reconstruction of an adidas Crazy 8 retro for one of their signature athletes, Iman Shumpert of the NY Knicks. [more]
Just when the world was getting introduced to Google’s Glass now they have a custom talking adidas shoe. At SXSW 2013(if you don’t know, find out) in Austin, Texas Google has released a pair of formerly black and white Adidas Originals AR 3.0 whose stripes are decked out in Google’s signature primary + green color scheme. Namely the first part of Google’s Art, Copy, & Code program the shoes were created along with artist Zach Lieberman and interactive collective YESYESNO. [more]
Sneaker customizers with aptitude for decon-recon customizations are putting themselves ahead of the pack with each new custom they make. This latest decon-recon by JBF Customs takes inspiration from the furthest heights of high street fashion. JBF gave this previously leather Adidas Pro Model a fully waxed denim upper taking inspiration from Balmain Biker Jeans and their multi-paneled and ribbed construction. The iconic 3 stripes are flowing in the other direction as they are contrasted against a ribbed mid panel a la the signature Balmain look. Further details can be seen in the tongues unique panel construction, leather tabs engraved with JBF’s branding, and lambskin liner for ultimate comfort. As always with work from JBF this custom was deconstructed and reconstructed through steps of cutting, shaping and stitching by JBF himself. 100% wearable and 100% chance you’ll have some of the most original shoes around, custom or not.
These will be a special release on BLACK FRIDAY, November 23rd at JBF’s newly designed site: JBFcustoms.com. Check more work from JBF on Twitter: @JBFcustoms and Instagram the same: @JBFcustoms
The entire mashup Air Jordan designs are still ones that the veteran sneakerhead is not really a big fan of. But with the continued colorways and addition to NikeID the Spiz’ike has made it’s mark as a favorite amongst the general sneakerhead community. Is it because of Mars or Spike? Who knows but this colorway seems to be one Jordan Brand missed out of the obvious black/cement. One released in 2009 but with the blacked out elephant print that pair did not have the full OG look. Being unsatisfied with his “Mar Blackmon” Spiz’ikes Sab One gave them that OG look with the addition of painting the upper black, removing red from the midsole and matching up the front elephant print to the back. So check before and after below and let us know are they better? Are they better? ARE THEY BETTER?
This pair is Sab’s personal collection piece so only available if you provide a pair for him to paint. Check more work and commission Sab One for your own custom Air Jordans at Sab-1.com
The before Mars Blackmon Spiz’ike’s via SneakerNews.com
The color swap, mirrored colorway, hybrid custom sneaker whatever you want to call it is nothing new, shoe customizers have been doing it regularly since 2003. Some miss the execution on a great concept while others seem to pull it off rather well. Heck even Nike’s official released Jordan Fusion designs were hit and miss amongst JB fans. This pair by Dank Customs brings together retro a 1988 Air Jordan and 1990 Air Max that is levels above most other attempts of this type of combination.
Jake of Dank Customs used the perfect Air Max 90 with blue accents engraving them with a really accurate attempt of signature Air Jordan III elephant print on the upper gray suede panels. Next red rings were painted around the eyelets to match those of the AJ III’s eyelets. While the usual mirrored colorway would now add on a painted Jordan logo here and there Jake chose to go on another level to sacrifice what “sneakerheads” consider precious True Blue IIIs. The tongues and heel tabs of the AM90s were replaced with those of the retro IIIs. Whatever you want to call these, hybrid probably fits best and a good one at that.
Checkout more work and contact Dank Customs via www.jwdanklefs.com
Imagine if using sneakers as a canvas back in the 1970s was as prominent as it is now. Kicks that looked like these Andy Warhol inspired Adidas could have been THE pair to have. Inspired by Warhol’s legendary work Ben of Brush Footwear hand painted his 1976 “Skull” screen print on a pair of mostly white Adidas Nizza high tops. The canvas shoe now has a black upper with blue and pink sections and a detail in the Skull on the lateral sides.
As for now this pair is a 1 of 1 but If you’re would like to inquire about your own pair check out brushfootwear.com and follow @BrushFootwear on Twitter.
The 1976 Warhol “Skull” screen print inspiration:
What custom sneaker idea could emmanueLabor be cutting up with this pair of Air Jordan IV Military Blues? Reverse Cavs IV? Maybe. Check back for the finished product and follow the Seattle, Washington based customizer @emmanueLabor on Twitter.
Collaborations between big big corporate brands in the same category is usually saved for our imaginations. For example I doubt Pepsi and Coke will ever release a joint venture soda. In all liklihood Nike will never work with Adidas either…..but what if each of their most unique and newsworthy shoes in recent years were a collaboration? Well this “What the Shackles” by eXpression Airbrush may have been the result. The “What the Dunk” Nike SB release was recreated on a pair of Adidas Adicolor Superstars but instead of stopping there an idea from the recent controversially canceled Adidas Roundhouse “HandCuffs” by Jeremy Scott were thrown into the mix.
“The idea for the what the dunk version on the shoe came from my client, however, I was a little hesitant to do it until he gave me artistic freedom to put my twist, hence the shackle. You may think interesting, yes, controversial and over the top, yes. It maybe outrageous and overwhelming. All of these things are with purpose, but random, not necessarily. Everything about this shoe is anything but simple.
When I took on this commission I knew many would hate it. Simply because of the brand and because it would be sort of impostor shoe, a fake, a wanna be. And then the Adidas shackles never made it to production. What ever Jeremy Scotts intentions were in creating the shackles I do not know but It’s sad to say that in this day and age all it takes is one person to say, “Witch!!!” and everyone jumps on board. So right then and there it became clear to me that these custom being what they already were, an Adidas impostor, needed the shackles. It is the perfect base an Adidas adicolor in a special case with full set of colors which implies that the owner has the freedom to customize this pair however they please, ironically giving the power to break the shackles of social slavery.” – Robert of eXpression Airbrush
This intricate pair is a 1 of 1 that will stay that way but to see more work or commission your own 1 of 1 visit eXpression Airbrush on Facebook.com/expressionairbrush
Earlier this summer Jake of JBF Customs took his recon-decon skills to the task of combining two brands that each have a vast history: adidas and Pendleton and just happen to both have US headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
If you were unaware of Pendleton you’ve likely seen lots of their products in fashion trends over the past year or at least designs influenced by look of their Native American wool trade blankets. Last Summer we showcased another recon-decon using the same wool by The Shoe Surgeon: Pendleton x Supra Custom. This time though a more classic base shoe was used in an all white Adidas Pro Model. With its reconstruction JBF used a premium white leather on the stripes and lace panels for continuity with the all white soles. The liners are a comfy white lamb skin and the final touches can be seen in the engraved JBF logos on the tongue and heel tab.
Back in May JBF said he would only make 12 pairs of these. If you are still interested checkout his site: JBFcustoms.com or contact him for your own pair on Twitter: @JBFcustoms
A little bit of zebra, tiger, and leopard. What started out as an all white Adidas Superstar is now a wild African animal mix thanks to El Cappy. This customer commission now finds it’s home in Florida sure to stand out from the crowd. El Cappy used a black on white zebra print to cover the iconic three stripes, heel tab and as well as a unique look on the baby fat laces. The lace panels feature a golden brown and black stripes of the tiger while the majority of the upper includes an very well detailed leopard print. Final accents include a claw scratch on the back heels and El Cappy’s signature anchor logo on the tongues in red. More work from this Detroit, Michigan based customizer can be seen and orders placed via his site: ElCap1of1.com
For the first CKIP: Custom Kicks in Progress post this pair of Adidas could be one of the only times this shoe has been used. Dmoneyy3 based in Indianapolis, Indiana is in the middle of giving this pair of tennis sneakers, the Adidas Barricade 7, a bit of “Nerf” styling a la the Nike KD4 from this year. The orange, purple, and black/silver speckle print is done. All they need is a little neon green perhaps? Follow dmoneyy3 on Instagram for more of his work!
Given the history of signature shoes by Dallas Cowboys players, like Deion Sanders and Emmitt Smith, you’d think there would be a good number of custom sneakers too. It seems as if Cowboys fans just might not be as big a sneaker fans as those of the Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers. One thing those Cowboys fans do have is the 2nd longest Thanksgiving Day game behind the Detroit Lions. Dallas started playing the annual holiday game back in 1966 after the NFL looked asked for another team to host the annual Thanksgiving Day game, while every other team declined and decided a Thursday game would somehow hurt their momentum. I wonder how many teams would have said “Yes!” knowing what they know today about football and America? Dallas fans checkout these custom sneaker and comment with your favorite. To purchase any style or contact the artist check out the link in their description.
Kids Cowboys Vans Slip-on painted by Tiffany Minkus
“How ‘Bout Them Cowboys” with mascot Rowdy Nike Blazers painted by D@ Prince Customs
Cowboys logo fabric Nike Air Force 1 by Casey Custom Sneakers
Big Star logo Cowboys Adidas Superstars painted by D@ Prince Customs
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Run DMC’s “My adidas” another pair pair of the iconic white with three black stripes Superstars were released with the groups branding. The pair was complete with 1986 stitched on the sides and limited to just as many pairs, gold dookie chain dubraes, JMJ on the heel panels, special tongue branding and the classic RUN DMC logo on the insoles. But as with previous RUN DMC themed adidas releases not much was made for parents wanting their kids to match. Leave it up to a customizer like Dank Customs to create a simple pair like these mini versions of the Adidas Superstar 35th Anniversary pair from a few years back. Maybe parents and kids will be able to say “Our Adidas” during the 30th year celebration.
