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
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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.
Air Jordan 1 Custom “AIRWISDUMB” by Josh Wisdumb
A good 8+ years ago this artist with a love for sneakers had the chance many sneaker customizers and general artists for that matter, will never get. In 2005 Josh Wisdumb was commissioned by New Balance to recreate is art on the silhouette of the New Blance 574. The black and white design featuring Wisdumb’s line work released in limited numbers apart of an NB artist series pops up on eBay every once and a while.
Air Jordan XI (11) Georgetown Hoya by Noldo Customs
Where was this color combo in 1995? This would of set the court on fire for the Georgetown Hoyas’ young Allen Iverson. The classic cool gray retro of the Air Jordan XI has been given a navy upgrade. The previously gray patent was refinished in the shade of blue with accents on the sockliner and tongue embroidery. The Jordan Brand team sponsors missed out on this combo for Jordan’s college rivals. With the rise of XI customs could we see that shoe in more outlandish color combos if these customs keep catching fire across the Interwebz?