After 6 months of work PMK Customs and Microsoft Internet Explorer will launch PMK Design Lab tomorrow in Los Angeles, CA. Initially the project started off with 27 unique custom shoes created for the IE brand but talks of future collaborations with Microsoft project manager Bryan Saftler and his team led to PMK being asked “What can IE do for you?” PMK’s answer was help in creating something people everywhere with Internet access could experience a platform for custom design amongst multiple brands and color options with modern graphics and usability and have the ability to order that shoe. The Microsoft set out to use “next generation” technologies like HTML5 and touch screen functions based on the growing popularity of tablets and touch screen monitors as everyday household items. The end result is the PMK Design Lab.
Air Jordan 3 Space Jam Customs by @Ebreez3
Sneaker customizer EBreez3 has solidified his recent work around the Air Jordan III retro model. Previously we’ve seen his take on Air Jordan’s Tokoyo V theme and Eminem IV design in the life of the AJ III. This time Ebreez3 takes on the look of the Air Jordan XI Space Jam. The pair features an all black upper blacking out the elephant print with a gloss finish and a faux patent leather treatment on the mudguard a la the 11s. The midsoles were matched with a full white out while the flat laces were replaced with those of the round style. Touches of blue on the tongue and heel tab branding complete the look. The gray soles aren’t the AJ XI clear but they suffice for this project considering how hard it would be to find a AJ III clear sole.
@KingJames wants his own Nike Lebron X Devastator Custom by @Mache275
Only hours after Dan of Mache Customs posted his latest Nike Lebron X customs via his Instagram did @KingJames himself repost them. The idea that caught Lebron James’ attention was the Transformers Devastator themed pair in metallic green and purple. For the most part this was a simple customization as Mache used the options on Nike ID to create the pefect base of green and purple. His touch was the silver panelling painted to look like steel panels that were also given a reflective finish. The colorway was brought together with a simple Decepticon branding on the back heel triangles and embroidered logos on the tongue tags courtesy of @HerbJuice.
Air Jordan 4 Bred Python Custom by @TheShoeSurgeon
The Air Jordan line has been getting its taste of animal skin as of late in the custom sneaker world. The most recent is the Air Jordan IV in the classic “bred” colorway. Created by Dominic Chambrone aka The Shoe Surgeon this Jordan retro was reconstructed with an overlay of black python skin over the entire black nubuck upper. The back heel tabs and eyelet wings were kept while the Air Jordan flight tongue tags were replaced with those of The Shoe Surgeons logo lasered into red suede. Exotic.
Nike Foamposite Pro “Walking on Mars” Custom by SmoothTip
Roberto of SmoothTip Customs conquered the Galaxy custom sneaker this year with arguably the best recreation of the adorned design but this time he reached land with another celestial themed Nike Foamposite Pro. Titled Walking on Mars, this pair of hand painted Foamposites mimics the red cratered surface of our solar systems 4th planet. A mashup of everything from black to brown to yellow and red paint covers the Foamposite upper with solid black and red accents. Each pair ordered will also be accompanied by a print of the shoes as if they were literally on the Red Planet.
Air Jordan 4 “What the Fake” Custom by @ReviveCustoms
Give him a theme and Evan of Revive Customs will attack it. You may look at these with one eyebrow raised but their awesomeness is immeasurable. Known for his take on the What the…? theme of combining multiple shoes’ memorable patterns on one Evan decided to poke fun at the bootleg sneaker with this What the Fake Air Jordan IV custom.
The previously all white AJ 4 now features at a slew of patterns with at least 20 different hand painted colors. Featured are hand painted mocks of patterns seen on fake Nikes over the past 5 to 10 years: rainbow LV pattern, SpongeBob Squarepants, Big Pun Air logo, Jor1 $ signs, Hello Kitty, stars and stripes, and random colors.
@Reebok Question 76ers Allen Iverson Customs by @FettiDbiasi
Did you know Reebok is finally getting more hip to the retro game? We’ve seen the Pumps and a few Iverson’s before but scheduled to come back are a bunch of Shaq’s old shoes and more. Recently New York based customizer Fetti D’Biasi gave the recent Reebok Question X Packer Shoes release a bit more of a Philly feel.
The already red white and blue upper left just enough room for a bit of Philadelphia 76ers and Iverson logo work on the white toes. A couple lines and gold stars add more detail for a pair of Allen Iverson retros that surely won’t look like the next guy’s.
Tattooing a Sneaker? Second Skin Video by @VictorAguiar_
Custom sneakers have been described as a tattoo you can remove. Well a t-shirt could be that too…while sneakers will always be thought of as a more interesting canvas for graphic art before shirts. Yet sneaker customization has a ways to go to reach the level of tattooing. But what if you truly combined the art of tattoos with those of sneakers? No not just a tattoo artist painting shoes but one going at a sneaker with their tattoo gun. Victor Aguiar thought the tattooed shoe was worth trying. Check the outcome in his video below titled Second Skin: Shoe Art Project II.