The current amount of social media profiles that PaintOrThread follows that are considered “sneaker customizers” is over an average of 200 on each outlet. That total is growing everyday. Without some people choosing to customize regularly over years the hobby of customizing a pair of shoes by hand likely wouldn’t be able to be considered a topic for it’s own lane of art and design. In the past Complex’s lists dealing with sneaker customization have been a basket of mixed reactions but this one is likely the most accurate.
Mens Customs
Customs made for men
Air Jordan IV “LeJordan” White Fire Red by @FreakerSneaks
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?
The Best Iron Man Themed Custom Shoes
With a history of 50 years, 500+ comics, and now 3 feature films Iron Man is quite the accomplished comic book character. Apart of the Marvel Comics empire the red and gold superpower machine super hero is not just for comic book nerds. Sneakerheads have fully embraced the metal suit look of engineer billionaire Tony Stark. With the release of 2008’s Iron Man movie the idea to use the red and golden suit for a custom sneaker fan art design only continued to grow. 5 years later and on the release of the 3rd movie we have scoured the web for what we’d like to consider the best Iron Man
Nike Air Max 1 “MF Doom” by Dank Customs
Last week we showcased Dank Customs take on a Doctor Doom theme Nike Air Max 1 as part of SAsneaksup 2013. For the same event and 4th year in a row Jake of Dank Customs put together a 1 of 1 custom that was raffled off at the event last weekend in San Antonio, Texas. Sticking with the Doom theme and the AM1 retro, the MF Doom Nike Dunk was recreated in low top form. One of the better thought out color swaps, this Air Max is spot on to the look of the Dunk hi sans just the 3M piping’s reflectiveness. Though the all black and metallic gray upper was still accented by a light gray outline.
Nike Foamposite “New York Knicks X Sole Collector” by SmoothTip
The all white Foamposite is starting to make the rounds in the custom sneaker world. Taking inspiration from a few places SmoothTip goes New York Knicks and Sole Collector on these Foams. NY blue was added to the lace panels, tongue, ankle, and sockliners with hints of orange on the embroidered Swooshes and tongue pull tab. Next embroidered patches of the old school Knicks NYK logo and the Sole Collector S logo seen on the limited
Nike Dunk “Project Gumamela” by CPB Customs
A simple but detailed alteration can give a shoe an entirely different life. The hibiscus flower which goes by gumamela in the Philippines was the inspiration for this more masculine take on a flower design by Charles of CPB Customs. Starting with the Slate Blue Nike Dunk SB they were transformed starting with the painting and engraving of the gumamela pattern mixed in with roses, banana tree leaves, and thorns in black against the slate blue panels. The previously white Swooshes were given a coat of metallic gold with matching laces to tie in with the classic gum soles.
Nike Lebron 9 “What the Lebron” by @TwizzCustoms
The look of many shoe designs upon one shoe is either a love or hate thing. It was a concept started by Nike SB with their “What the Dunk” that due to limited numbers became a popular shoe. Do you think you could pull off a look like this? Twizz Customs recreated a plethora of Lebron 9 colorways onto that same 9 with apparently not a single spot on the shoe missing a change of color.
“DJ Flying Lotus” Custom Supra Skytops by District Customs
Occasionally, customizers have to step up and meet near impossible deadlines. As was the case for District Customs when one of his favorite musicians contacted him to create this pair. Los Angeles DJ/Producer Flying Lotus was scheduled to perform in Washington, D.C in late April 2013. Trevor of District Customs got the pair of white Supra Skytops the day before and immediately got to work. Armed with a paintbrush and directions to “do his thing,” District Customs spent the next 25 hours crafting this 1-of-1 pair for Fly Lo so that he could hand deliver them to him before the performance.