Interview with Shoe Customizer Nizo of Sweatshop Clothing

Making a splash to the scene while doing what they love is essentially the plan Sweatshop Clothing is following. Aside from that determination they have cool nickname that is a play on the clothing industries most negative problem over the last 15 years. So enough typing here is the story behind Sweatshop Clothing.

1. Please give your name, age, where you are from and or grew up?

Nizos, 27, living in Cincinnati now, but grew up in Anderson, Indiana. Sweatshop Clothing is a duo, and I’d imagine if Kirk (the other half) was here, he’d say “old enough and I came from the streets”.

2. What, if any, art based education have you had?

Formal training? I didn’t learn to paint wearing a tuxedo if that is what you’re asking, hahaha. No formal training.

3.When did you start and what got you into customizing?

I cranked out my 1st pair of kicks in early ‘07, had been painting for a while, gifts and things for myself. I’ve always had a great love for sneakers hood sh!t in general. I had no idea there was a whole customizing culture out there until mid 08, and was very excited to see all the information being exchanged….I read a lot and keep up with forums like ISS, it’s a real wealth of knowledge.

4. Is customizing a full time gig? If not what pays the bills?

Full time gig, I haven’t had a job for a long time, I’ve always been the type of cat who’d rather get paid of his own ingenuity then put on a monkey suit and take orders from some chump. Not that I advocate it, but it’s a reality….can’t sell dope forever, now I push dope kicks & clothing.

EmmanueLabor: Only Built For Cuban Linx Nike Air Force 1

Every single time EmmanueLabor brings something that is almost never been seen. That is the case again with his Raekwon “Only Built For Cuban Linx” album inspired Nike Air Force 1s. The upper on these are pure sickness with the lyrics on paper and tape under a clear vinyl, purple vinyl and the perfect use of the purple sole. Someone give EmmanueLabor a job at the least a collabo shoe or something, shit let him design some swim trunks for your brand and I’ll put money they are better than anything your company has released. Or possibly could even think of.

EmmanueLabor’s MySpace

emmanueLabor: “Real Unoriginal” aka Kaws & Effect Dunks

The media attention U.S. artist “Kaws” is getting right now is insane. But that is an extremely important fact, visual arts have seemed to have taken a dip in mainstream exposure the past ten years or so due to the increase in the media’s attention to “other” current events. This past year has seen more artists in the news such as Kaws and Shepard Fairey, which is great to spread word of actual skilled artists considering how many things are created on computers in this time. Yet  certain “cool” people complain when the mainstream gets hooked on certain “underground hidden secrets”. Why limit exposure to only the underground and “those in the know”? Why sell yourself short by not sharing your work as much as possible? This is planet Earth, art and all subjects should be able to be experienced by anyone who wishes. What does that have to do with these shoes by emmanueLabor? Everything.

Kaws started out as someone that is now known as being a graffiti artist. From those beginnings he educated himself, went to school, and took his skills and ideas to create the empire of art, products, and work we see today. These same opportunities are there for any person with a true passion for customizing sneakers. PaintorThread will be doing our part to help out any customizer that wants to reach the top, all while recognizing how this hobby started and grew over the past 10 years. EmmanueLabor is one perfect example of someone with the passion and respect for the hobby. That is the reason we frequently post his work. Enough talk, on to the shoes.

EL’s design is based off of Kaws’ release last year of denim with glow in the dark accents. The back panels, laces, and stitching all glow. Allowing EL’s placement of the Kaws artwork on the back panels to stick out in the dark.

emmanueLabor’s MySpace