Do shoe stores like Foot Locker and Finishline still have Brannock devices on hand? If you worked in a shoe store years and years ago the “Brannock Device” was an often used tool that the customer often times used incorrectly. Nicknamed after the footwear industry’s standard measuring device is “The Brannock: Custom Sneaker & Art Show” in Los Angeles. Over ten artists’ work has been curated by King Kang of King of Sneakers and Marcos Rafael Ponce of Top2Bottom in an effort to showcase the customized sneaker’s place as an art form all it’s own.
Nike
Customs made on Nike brand shoes.
Nike Air Force 1 Cobra Head Customs by @_NYCESociety
If you happened to catch the BET Awards last night or the hip-hop blogosphere this Monday good chances are you have been amused at the red carpet outfit of artist French Montana and his intense use of snakeskin. Pictured below French’s getup was snakeskin from head(s) to toe with the most shocking look being the full skin and heads of three snakes on his shoulders and hood (no confirmation of them being authentic or not). We shall see if NYCESociety was ahead of the game if this full snake infused style becomes a full trend.
Nike Lebron X Joker by KSM Custom Kicks
Has there been a super villain with a bigger legacy than the short lived Joker played by Heath Ledger? Kyle of KSM Custom Kicks brings that Joker’s signature characteristic to the Nike Lebron X. The previously all white upper received a painting of purple on the toes, green on the back Swooshes, and the Flywire mesh was painted black.
Nike Dunk Slimer Camo Glow Customs by El Cappy
Use your resources. The craze for glow in the dark painted uppers and soles is at an all time high in the custom sneaker scene, but why go to the trouble of adding glow if you can already get it on a base sneaker? Detroit based customizer El Cappy went to the archives to pull out a glow in the dark Nike Dunk from 2006 for his latest custom to receive his 1 of 1 treatment.
Nike Dunk “Metal Guy” Custom by @Diversitile and @3RCustoms
Any good idea is worth doing again if there is improvement right? I mean how many times did they make that movie? From the preview earlier this week of the Metal Guy Dunk High by Diversitile and 3R Customs anyone that has been paying attention to custom sneakers for at least a few years probably said “hmm something seems familiar”. In a new revamped take on their original design that sort of got them into a bit of trouble in 2010 this Nike Dunk is customized in a recognizable metallic red and gold colorway.
Metal Guy Nike Dunk Hi Customs by @Diversitile and @3Rcustoms
Will collaborations be the trend for the second half of 2013 in custom sneakers? If so leading the way for that wave might just be the guys from Diversitile and 3R Customs. Thankfully the two custom veterans put faith in PaintOrThread to give the world the first look on this updated and revamped version of a past Diversitile world-infamous release.
Nike Kobe VIII “What the Kobe” by @RelevantCustoms and @Mache275
If 2012 saw anything in the custom sneaker game it was the growth in the use of animal skins for reconstructions. 2013 has seen that trend only continue to increase in popularity. The latest animal endeavor comes from a well known name, Mache coming together with a relatively unknown name, Relevant Customs to make The REAL Nike What the Kobe VIII.
Interview with Sneaker Patch Extraordinaire @HerbJuice
If you’ve been wondering how some customizers have been adding special patches to their customizations here is your answer: Herbjuice. If you know the name you’ve likely come across his work on the aforementioned sneaker customizers or his patches of Air Jordan and Nike silhouettes posted all over Instagram. With his growing popularity in the custom scene we had to get more info on how Herbjuice’s whole production came about. So read below to see what has happened and what might be next.