Map of Los Angeles Custom Vans by Randy of @RadIsRad

The type of custom designs that can speak for themselves are a favorite here at PaintOrThread.com. But the least we can do is give a good description of what is pictured and where you can contact the artist that made them. Even then you’d be surprised how many times people still comment asking where they can get the featured shoes. But the word where is not a question for these custom Vans. Living in southern California probably had something to do with the design on this previously all white pair of Vans slip ons. Randy De Jesus of the streetwear brand Rad Is Rad put his drawing [more]

LA Smog Nike Zoom Kobe VI Customs by emmanueLabor

Last year the city of Los Angeles encountered the city’s first smog alert warning in 5 years. Those historically high levels of smog in the city of Los Angeles during the 1990s and early 2000s were the inspiration for the colorway of these custom Nike Zoom Kobe VI’s by emmanueLabor. The Zoom Kobe VI is a shoe that has or will have official releases in a seemingly excessive amount of themed color combos including Christmas Day Grinch, Black History Month, LA, Sunset, and even 3D Glasses effect. These custom painted pair fit right in that line of unique colors with a smog like gradient of light gray to black on the mamba snake scales that cover the majority of the performance basketball shoes synthetic upper. The real neck breaker is the reflective finish applied with the purple background on the upper. All with some gold Swooshes and tongue lining to get the full Los Angeles Laker effect.

To buy your own pair of these “Smog” Nike Zoom Kobe VI visit: emmanueLabor.com

Weekly Methamphibian Throwback: #2

Six years ago in 2003 was when these were released. These were Methamphian’s second retail collaboration, the first being with Prohibit NYC. Yet, I’m pretty sure these were his first mulitple pair release being out of Undefeated LA. Based of the iconic Nike Air Jordan III and the color of the Los Angeles Lakers these were a instant sell out and sign of change in the customs world. The change being that stores and companies were noticing customizers. Undefeated a huge Nike seller, known to many as the best sneaker shop in the world, most likely had a connect with Nike to allow Methamphibian to be able to work on a run of this size. Unfortunately I can not remember if these were released in a run of 12, 15, or 24, pretty sure it was one of those numbers though. This designs success lead to the release of a few other designs for Methamphibian out of Undefeated in 2003 and 2004. If you have any info or photos of this pair please email contact@paintorthread.com

Methamphibian’s Website