Barack Obama 2012 Nike Air Force 1 Custom by @VanMonroe

2012 marks the year of the United States’ most important presidential election. Polls are supposedly pretty even between the two Democratic and Republican candidates of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The landscape and impact of social media on the election and debate of pertinent issues has only fueled the political conversations across the country. In the past politics are a seldom used theme amongst sneaker customizers, but one Van Monroe let the idea take his work to amazing heights in 2008. 4 years later as a sequel to his custom Air Force 1 in 2008 Cleveland, Ohio sneaker customizer Van Monroe has created another Barack Obama themed pair of art.

A comparison of the ’08 and ’12 pairs for one shows Van’s growth in design skills. The use of color, graphics, text and overall detail keeps your eyes busy but also provides a uniform design. One glance of the finished custom and this statement from Van shows his passion for the project:

“The Obama 2012 Sneaker is based on the Presidents accomplishments over his first four years and how I believe he moving the country in the right direction. The stitching illustrates his policies at work, just as the threading keeps the shoe from unraveling, I believe the Presidents agenda for America has saved us from slipping into a great depression. The right shoe carries a hang tag displaying the campaigns slogan “Forward” I accompanied  this message with a side view of President Obama. I pay homage to the original Obama 2008 sneaker through the black and white illustrations on both sneakers. Hopefully my audience can appreciate my goal of showing the Presidents achievements and his growth as a leader.  With this new sneaker, you also get a glimpse into the degree of my maturation as a designer since the last time I paid homage to Mr Obama.” – Van Monroe

In 2008 Van’s Obama custom shoe was desired by everyone from celebrities to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History. In a few days time will only tell if this design can reach further heights. Check out more work from Van via VanMonroe.com and be sure to follow him on Twitter: @VanMonroe

Van Monroe’s 2008 Barack Obama Nike Air Force 1. Image via LikeCool.net

MYL Ticket: Vans Slip-ons Barack Obama “Steps of Progress”

So Obama this Obama that. Nothing else was going on in the world the last few weeks for the news to report other than American parents not wanting him to give a speech to their school children and some Congressman shouting out that he is a liar during his health care speech to Congress. But these are maybe one of the best Barack Obama customs sneakers I’ve come across. Maybe it is the fact that the actual place of work of the President, The White House, is on the shoes. Ok enough Obama, enough looking back at 2008′s most made custom, I’ll try to get back to the custom of 2009: Michael Jackson.

MYL Ticket’s MySpace

Van Monroe: On Fox News Cleveland

The customizer, Van, behind the most famous Obama customs had a segment on the local Cleveland Fox News station. Check it!

Van’s MySpace

K.I.S.S. Barack Obama Nike Air Force 1s

Barack Obama officially made a mark on the sneaker culture last year, amongst other accomplishments. Multiple Obama customs were made, sold, and eventually mass produced by the fake factories(more on that later), but we’ll start with possibly the best Obama custom. Mr. Pussyfoot followed the PaintOrThread number one motto: K.I.S.S. with his version. Possibly because 300 pairs were supposedly made? Maybe. Nonetheless they are clean and simple with just the Obamo “O” logo on the back heels. Akon even got a pair, so you know they are legit. Right?

For More info visit Mr. Pussyfoot’s blog