Have you ever thought about what it would be like to create and own your sneakers?

Imagined a sneaker design you would like of your own, possibly a collaboration with your favorite brand with an ideal way they could be developed, when inspiration meets sneakers, from whatever a person feels, thinking at the moment. Blending the two passions, art, and sneakers create your own story. Happening pretty often nowadays

The fixation on sneakers is getting crazy in a good way, so imagine having something you created yourself become a trending topic to others around you.

Customized sneakers are like the closest thing to having an exclusive car designed in a way. Sneakers are literality the first thing people notice, therefore only right to add your flavor.

Who likes customized sneakers out here

The cool kid who takes individuality seriously, different laces and trinkets on his Superstars. The girl who thinks her Vans would be better with more neon colors, so she paints them herself, the person who writes their favorite quote or phrase on their Air Forces with a sharpie, any regular person with artistic ideas.

The process of customizing a sneaker can start by stripping away the original paint, using tape to protect certain parts of the shoe but mainly to help outline the design, then painting them with the desired colors. The heel, tongue, soles, and laces are usually the primary areas to be worked on when customizing a sneaker.

Old clothing materials from jeans or leather jackets, materials from bags, threads, attaching accessories, anything can be towards the process of customizing the new version of your ideal sneaker.

Now it’s beyond the retail brands in this day and age.

Celebrities and influencers are increasingly demanding customizers to construct sneakers to add their image.

Popular customized sneakers are now generating ideas for new designs for certain retail brands, collaborating with other retailers and designers working outside the box where they're altering the original styles for a new-fashioned modern look. Websites and retail brands now offer services to consumers to buy customized sneakers with set arrangement options to create.

Something new to the table

Retail brands are slowly applying this subculture to the mainstream sneaker industry. Masterclasses, tutorials, schools institutions adding customization programs for people to learn as a skill set, changes in technology, available resources like different type paint just for sneakers, materials, tools, are more accessible and produced.

Customized sneakers come across even more distinctive, leaving an impression on others.

The benefit from this

Anybody can benefit from this in many ways, from sneakerheads or a business perspective. Worldwide, online, inner cities, classrooms, fashion shows, even overseas communities have this extraordinary amount of interest in creativity with customizing sneakers. Everywhere individuals are finding ways to be involved in some sort of way.

Social media now increasingly plays a role in the sneaker world, as popular customizers set off to be exceedingly known, illustrating others to create, leading people to get sponsorships and collaborations, opening more doors for opportunities. Consumers or even ordinary people can see how they can invite themselves to seek a way to show off their craft skill set with sneakers.

Evolve into something bigger

As a way to create an identity, an artist can expand their creativity.

Art shows, conventions, showrooms, now custom sneaker studios, and masterclasses are happening. Custom sneakers are now a sub-culture within the sneaker culture.

Giving more options brands can build from, inspiring others to be even more innovative.

Moving forward

Ideas keep the culture moving forward in the sneaker world. Original designs might not fit the next person, getting better at expressing ideas, customizers show a window of opportunity for others to see if they can bring existing sneaker designs to another level of creativity.

Growing by the day, more people want to join this simple leisure interest.

Anybody from influencers, athletes, and yourself can continue to keep participating.

Customized sneakers can be a fun pastime activity that will always be around. Thumbs up for individuals to do what they want in life, designing their own story.

The Rise of Customize