One of the easier “concepts” in the custom sneaker world is that of the color swap. It involves the customizing a pair of sneakers into a different colorway based on an officially released colorway of a different model of shoes. Even though the creativity needed to complete a color swap is basic, the skills needed to pull off a decent end result take some practice to achieve. [more]
Is there any non-athlete that has a bigger impact on the sneaker world than Kanye West? The “Yeezy” colorway customs are rampant and non-news at this point but DMC Kicks gives a nod to West’s musical prowess of his 2005 single Gold Digger on this Air Jordan IV. These don’t entail a huge alteration as the starting base is still recognizable being the cement gray/white colorway of the AJ IV retro. [more]
The Air Jordan XI seems to be in a close competition with the Lebron X as the current it shoe among customizers(and their customers). With more releases this year scheduled and restocks of recent releases like the XI Playoffs aka “breds” we can only expect more customs. Times sure have changed as just as a few years ago most people would type in the comment sections “oh they are cool but people would think they are fakes, so I wouldn’t rock em.” But with such a complex and distinguished design the XI really only looks good with simple customization. [more]
The current great will always be compared to Air Jordan. Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, and Kobe Bryant were the first few. Lebron came in with years of comparisons, so much that now kids coming in 10 years later are compared to Lebron. But will Lebron overcome Jordan or will he establish his own completely unique legacy? [more]
A good 8+ years ago this artist with a love for sneakers had the chance many sneaker customizers and general artists for that matter, will never get. In 2005 Josh Wisdumb was commissioned by New Balance to recreate is art on the silhouette of the New Blance 574. The black and white design featuring Wisdumb’s line work released in limited numbers apart of an NB artist series pops up on eBay every once and a while. [more]
Where was this color combo in 1995? This would of set the court on fire for the Georgetown Hoyas’ young Allen Iverson. The classic cool gray retro of the Air Jordan XI has been given a navy upgrade. The previously gray patent was refinished in the shade of blue with accents on the sockliner and tongue embroidery. The Jordan Brand team sponsors missed out on this combo for Jordan’s college rivals. With the rise of XI customs could we see that shoe in more outlandish color combos if these customs keep catching fire across the Interwebz? [more]
How often do you look at stuff you see everyday and think, “hmmm how would that design look on a sneaker?” For the sneaker customizer with a good eye for design the skill of recreating a theme or look on a sneaker without a blatant logo or graphic is something to be proud of. This latest custom along those subtle design inspiration ways by Maggie of FGcustoms may remind those in the know of a Air Force 1 look-a-like Menthol design by artist ARI in 2006. This pair though the concept is less on making a statement or mocking branding but instead creating a freshly influenced design. [more]
The Air Jordan IV nicknamed “oreo” is the inspiration for this color swap creation by VAB Customs. Using an apparently worn Air Jordan V VAB gave them new life with an overall black finish to match the suede on the tongues and previously clear side panels. The next addition that makes these “oreo” is the light gray midsoles and plastic eyelets with black paint speckling aka cement. [more]
As the custom sneaker world grows and certain customizers focus on a niche skill the amount of collaborations will only increase. An often seen custom is that of a colorswap, but instead of just a color change @ammoskunk and SewnUpSoles went a bit further to be filed under the “hybrid” classification. Titled “Air Yeezy IV Revelation” this retro Air Jordan IV has been mashed up with that of an Nike Air Yeezy II. What started out as a Jordan IV retro in the military blue colorway now has the look of the Yeezy II’s black/solar red colorway starting with an all black upper. [more]
With teasers hitting the Internet last week it was our duty to bring an inside scoop on this interesting work by JBF Customs. The project is in fact a collaborative design effort between Jake of JBF Customs and @RegularOlTy of Leaders1354. The latest in JBF’s line of reconstructed custom sneakers these truly represents “premium” starting with a thick burgundy leather used on the toes, lace, and heel panels. The next obvious material is cork placed from the toe box, mid panels, Swooshes, tongues and upper heels. [more]
Boston based customizer Sab One brings together the world of Air Jordan with that of RAW Rolling Papers. The classic Air Jordan 1 was given a painted addition of tan to it’s common red, black, and white combination. The biggest detail added is the RAW logo in red across the back in seemingly spot on detail down to the speckled edges of the lettering. [more]
Last month Noldo Customs set Instagram a fire with a simple addition of black to the white midsole of the Air Jordan XI bred retro. Orders surely came rushing in with many others inspired to give the look a shot on their own pairs. This time a customer request allowed Noldo to team up with NYCE Society on a similar design on the XI low. The previously all white with red sole XI low release from last summer was given a snakeskin stitched overlay upon the white patent leather by NYCE Society. The black and red skin was complimented by Noldo painting the white upper, tongues, and midsoles a la the blacked out bred XI. [more]
Coming up with a new never seen colorway is not easy for anyone at this point from Nike’s official designers to photoshop amateurs to sneaker customizers. But there is room to put a different spin on a supposedly overused color combo. SmoothTip took an often seen south beach look with these “Miami Vice” Air Jordan V customs. What started out as the Fire Red AJ V now has a hand painted gray upper from a previously all white leather. [more]
The Nike Lebron 10 Cork was one of the most anticipated sneakers we’ve seen in a while and naturally that translates into inspiration for sneaker customizers. The most recent artist to tackle the Cork theme is District Customs with this pair of Air Jordan 3s. Taking the White Cement 3 as a base, District Customs spent 60 long hours engraving and painting the tumbled leather upper to resemble the porous cork material. The tongue, liner and mudguard feature a deep brown while the tongue liner has been dyed a wine-tone, continuing with the classy theme. DC also included reversible cork/gold dubres, designer wooden shoetrees, custom hand tags, and a custom engraved wooden slide box with a golden plate and leather strap. [more]
