Footwear
I spent a lot of time in my own world as a kid, so creativity has always felt like a part of my DNA. My ability to create took me from selling shoe drawings for 25 cents in 7th grade, to becoming the founder of my former global brand (GroundBreaker Customs); producing custom footwear, apparel, and accessories for a wide range of clients at the age of 17.
GroundBreaker Customs was terminated in 2015, and has since made the transition into a subsidiary of 723. Through both GBC and 723, I've been blessed to either meet, befriend, design for, recieve exposure/endorsements from, work with, and/or learn from:
adidas
Nike
Wells Fargo
Marquette University Men's Basketball
ESPN
Microsoft
Reebok
Millenial Magazine
TOMS
Motorized Precision
And many more.
Using quality materials, subtle accents and strategic colorblocking, I focus on innovation and attention to detail in producing custom work. I don't customize footwear for hype. I don't customize footwear for social media notoriety, and I don't customize footwear for the money. Customization represents one of the many outlets I utilize in efforts to express myself, while allowing me to give clients something they can take pride in; as they receive the only pair of it's kind in the world.
"Obsidian" Nike Air Force 1 Low
Comfort and luxury are two areas I wanted to focus on with this pair, while maintaining functionality and including original AF1 elements.
Leading things off, I quilted some black velvet and paired it with a perforated lambskin leather for the liner. With only one more layer on top, the extended tongue is designed to be thin, flexible, comfortable, durable and best of all- stay in place(!) with 5 tongue stabilizers.
Opting for a polished look and feel for the upper, I chose a waxed denim and patent leather combo that when contrasted with the darker, matte appearance of the suede- presents an eye pleasing balance of color & materials.
Suede etiquette 101 says to stay away from water- but should you find yourself around a spill, puddle or unexpected rainfall; you can rest easy knowing that the suede was pre-treated for water repellency, and the wax finish on the denim adds great water resistance. The patent leather speaks for itself in this category, but what some may not know is how the material resembles the pair's namesake; the glass-like obsidian rock.
Known in many regions to possess healing and grounding properties, the jet black volcanic rock is the perfect metaphor for getting back to accepting the black AF1 as the true streetwear/footwear staple that it is. Piggybacking off of that sentiment, I included mirrors in the vents for the cool kids- as a metaphor for looking at what they're actually perpetuating by trashing the black Air Force 1.
"Profiling is weird behavior, my boi. Don't do that."
- Abraham Lincoln, 1864
Metastatic Breast Cancer Research- Nike Air Force 1 Prototype
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, but men and women fight the disease everyday. I made this unisex Air Force 1 prototype with the ultimate goal in mind of raising awareness/funding for metastatic breast cancer research- which ties into a larger brand/design ethos of creating art for various causes.
Since these are just a prototype, I had fun with a little material design and adjusted the pattern. I mixed thread weights, and experimented with what colors/materials/processes I want to use (or not use) for the final product, which will look a bit different. That said, here’s some insight on the design:
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Metastatic breast cancer may be considered terminal, but it doesn’t have to mean “defeat”. I used cork to symbolize the celebration of beating cancer (literally/figuratively), by making the most out of the days/years we’re given.
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The unique stitching on the swoosh is to resemble heart rate/pulse waves on an ECG screen. The red symbolizes blood flow, and represents the life of anyone who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer.
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Carbon fiber is one of the strongest materials in existence. Using carbon fiber vinyl for the vamp/quarter panels allowed me to symbolize the strength of anyone who has ever fought MBC.
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In line with the colors/meaning of the MBC ribbon from Metavivor, I included green and teal accents on the tongue and liner.
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Just like the importance of street signs or the vest of a construction worker at night- the reflective underlays in the vamp/quarter panels represent symptoms coming to light after a routine check, it represents the attention needed outside of October, and the importance of finding a cure. 🎗️
"On My Way" - Wells Fargo
Blessed with the opportunity to work with Wells Fargo in spring 2017 for thier "On My Way" campaign, highlighting several creative, independent individuals who are crafting their own journeys. See the official ad from Pace Communications and Director's cut from EightFold Collective below, and click here to read the profile from Wells Fargo. This project was an honoree for a Branded Short Film Webby award in 2018.
"Deluxe" Nike Air Force 1
Originally an all-white AF1 mid- a DELUXE brand, camouflage shirt covers the entire shoe. Completely deconstructed/reconstructed.
"Midnight Black" adidas Ultraboost
Dyed primeknit, dyed boost, and gold accents came together for a "Midnight Black" Ultraboost custom before adidas launched the official colorway. Keeping this up because R.I.P. Mac Miller.
Customs
Metastatic Breast Cancer Nike AF1 Prototype
Genuine viper, liquid gold and suede.
Nike x NBA x UnspokenPDX collaboration to commemorate the NBA's new jersey contract with Nike.
A fan favorite.
The first shoe I ever made, inspired by the iconic logomania style and it's pioneer, Dapper Dan.
Primeknit upper/sock collar duo, with gold accents along the front bumpers/rear pull tab, a black boost midsole, and black eyelets; strategically positioned and firmly implanted to allow for multiple lacing styles in both the front and back.
Lacing options in the front and back, with a yellowed boost midsole and customized adidas branding.
The CS1 and R1 come together for the "Cousin" pack, including a black boost midsole on the R1, a carbon fiber tongue on the CS1, and gold eyelets.
Uncaged with gold eyelets, and a "pure white" treatment for the upper.
Yin & Yang color blocking through black eyelets, a black boost midsole, and innovated branding (inspired by the current adidas branding trends), on a white UltraBOOST 1.0 base.
Completely deconstructed/reconstructed using a mix of patent leather and garment cow skin, accented by Stan Smith inspired stitching and branding. This pair was done for the Eyes & Edge/adidas/Antonio Brasko "Just For Kicks" event for Portland Design Week in 2014. Proceeds went to "Harper's Playground", an organization dedicated to building playgrounds accessible not just for those with disabilities, but for everyone; regardless of ability.
Originally an all-white AF1 mid- a DELUXE brand, camouflage shirt covers the entire shoe. Completely deconstructed/reconstructed.
Completely deconstructed/reconstructed, and in line with a military themed run of customs (in progress); digital camouflage and carbon fiber vinyl collaborate in honor of the United States Department of The Navy, and Midshipmen and Administrators of the Marquette University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Completely deconstructed/reconstructed, and in line with a military themed run of customs (in progress); digital camouflage and carbon fiber upholstery collaborate in honor of the United States Marine Corps.
Thesignature fingerprint pattern, and a gradient from a vibrant 'Volt' neon green into black collaborate on the outer side of each shoe, and with the goal in mind to add a personal/unique twist- I replicated my left and right thumb prints on the pump of the respective shoes.
The signature fingerprint pattern, gold eyelets, and detailed branding work together to mark the start of a new era.
Sketching, Ideation and Rendering
