Our world sees custom sneakers that are nothing more than random paint on a shoe and pairs that required true craftsmanship and dedicated thought. These What The NYC Nike Dunk customs are one of the top pieces from 2016 that fall into the latter category.
An idea by artist ELO years in the making hit the streets this summer after being completed by Relevant Customs. The Nike Dunk silhouette takes the mashed up “What The” concept by Nike with focus on all things a New Yorker would recognize. All 12 of the Dunk’s panels were recreated using imagery of NYC staples: a Metro card, Joe’s Pizza box, a subway map, Lotto tickets, police crime scene tape, the NY Times, and concert tickets. With another finishing hand made touch in the back heel panels cut from a painting by ELO. A box by GoodWoodNYC looking like a stack of newspapers completes the custom.
While that sums up the sneakers themselves their life is not limited to a wear here and there and back into a shoebox of some sneakerhead’s closet. This idea has taken on more than your average custom as ELO, Evan Lorberbaum, has toured them about New York City as a public art project highlighting people, places and perspectives in NYC that can be seen on the Instagram account @WhatTheNYC and asking their thoughts on the greatest city in the world.
If you are big enough fan of New York, you can order a pair of these What The NYC Nike Dunks thanks to ELO and Relevant at RelevantCustoms.com. For more of their individual work check them both out here: Instagram.com/egetlo and Instagram.com/relevantcustoms
The original 2ft x 2ft painted canvas by ELO used on the back heels of the Nike Dunk customs
