Sneaker conventions are one of the most highly anticipated events in today’s sneaker culture. Hundreds of sneakerheads young and old (but mostly really young) come together in a large open space to buy, sell, trade, and gawk at sneakers and sneaker-related apparel. SneakerCon is one of the largest and most well-known conventions, traveling to various cities around the country multiple times a year. The lines are long, it’s loud and hot, and it’s amazing!
When you go to a sneaker convention, ain’t no half-steppin’. People go to stunt and to watch others stunt with rare and expensive Player Exclusives, samples, super duper hyperstrikes, and of course, customs. When the cameras start flashing or when a cutie is checking you out, you don’t want your shoe game to be sub par, do you?
PaintorThread was in the building at this weekend’s SneakerCon in New York City where NBA icon and Geico commercial star Dikembe Mutombo was the special guest, courtesy of Adidas Originals as a promotion for their August retro of the Adidas Mutombo from 1993. We scoured the lines, tables, and convention floors for custom sneakers on feet and on display. SmoothTip, Kickasso Kustoms, and Relevant Customs had their own displays, Mache‘s work showed up on a few tables around the venue, and we even met a few customizers whose work we hadn’t seen before. Check out the photos below and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for customs scouting at future events.
Photo credit: Andrew LaSane/ @laptop_lasane
*Click images for links to the artist’s Instagram. If your work is uncredited, message us with the correct information and we will update*
