The Evolution of Custom Sneakers & How Social Media Changed the Industry

For our latest in-depth discussion, host Pete Forester sits down with Highsnobiety’s George Ocampo and creative consultant Gia Seo to argue whether or not custom sneakers should be considered art, and how the influence of social media has impacted the industry.
Pete later catches up with the mind behind SuperKreep, Kelley Hice, a designer who’s found success reappropriating vintage or designer clothes, especially Louis Vuitton and Gucci. As Hice takes us on a tour through his Brooklyn studio and lengthy designer collections, he offers up major keys on how he found success in the industry through trial and error.
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[@TimEasleyUK]

A custom is when you do it yourself. A collaboration is when the brand approaches you to do it. I think the harder question is where the line is between a custom and a counterfeit.

[@iteitsmeok]

Tim Easley that's would be the prefect question. Answer would be once you start making 30+ of the same "custom" like the shoe surgeon then it becomes counterfeit

[@kokolatte825]

That's an excellent question. I think about that myself. I like customs where the creator creates from their own thoughts. I think it's more questionable for me when people use copyrighted materials, i.e. bape camo print, designer monograms, or changing the logo. And I would like to explore those lines a bit more.

[@FlyR7]

It's not counterfeit if you use original parts. Since you have the right to do what you want with a product after buying it. This means you can either use, collect, cut, paint, destroy or completley modify it. Now Making a shoe from the ground up with no original materials and completely copying it to be 1:1... and intending to sell it just like being the Original, well that's counterfeit and not a Custom at All.

[@TimEasleyUK]

FlyView, you can do what you want with what you own, yes. But if you sell it, it's entirely different legally.

[@FlyR7]

@@TimEasleyUK Let's take the example of a car, just because you painted some Lv Monogram on it and changed the Supra Motor for a Ferrari one. Doesn't make it illegal to sell. Like the Sellers already made their Profit by selling it to you. And they even Get Free Advertising because people will Notice how crazy that Custom Car is and wich Brands are involved.

[@keshlan23]

VANS had a custom programme way before Nike or Adidas

[@joseperezthe3rd]

Homegirl just straight confusing. Customs are made for you and only you. And to be seen, that’s how it’s ALWAYS been. Not just shoes but anything really.

[@fri1630]

Jose Perez III I think she is referring to so called "customs" which blatantly take influence from many other "design element" *fucking coughs off white* just t sell em. Personally i dont like customs that take too heavy inspiration from off white (eg. The vans off white customs i saw a while ago)

[@creativemofoo]

Jose Perez III false.

[@brasshogg7587]

Exactly that chick doesn't know what she's talking about, and always just plays the negative side of everything, and her style is bunk. GTFOH lol

[@FashionRoadman]

Always wonder why people dislike videos like this. Dunno why people are so bitter these days.

[@oscargiraldosanchez]

I would have to guess its because the audio sucks in this video

[@CeejFinesse]

i was already a fan of fre customs, nice to see him pop up here. another nice one highSnobs

[@ShermanBMason]

I've gotten so much less out of longer videos. I'm thankful for this video

[@omari1283]

A custom is when one modifies something to make it their own, adding a patch, putting an insole to make it fit better etc. A collaboration is when two or more entities come together and create a product or an idea. And what did the girl say?

[@sticksamurai]

3:35 love that "gucci"

[@ElijahLoganmaztrpeac3official]

host needs a better barber

[@drewali7]

Him and michael bivens from the group new edition arent going to get rid of that silly barber!!!

[@kokolatte825]

@@drewali7 wow! Interesting reference, but you're not wrong.

[@96dnibrats]

from the ground up is fckn AMAZING

[@masterworks41]

Hip hop started all this during the 70s and early 80s. I used to paint and polish my canvas Nike’s pumas and adidas sneakers when I was 13 in 1983 to be different and when phat laces came out it was never the same you had to have fresh kicks to stand out. Period. I hate I didn’t get in on this sneaker customization I have a keen eye for what people like to see.

[@christopherxavier4952]

Customs mean more options for the individual. That will always be a good thing. In my opinion, people who don’t see it this way have a mentality that is way too rigid. At the end of the day, having the option to do something like taking a silhouette you like with some [subjectively] ugly available color ways, reworking it with some different materials, and making it yours is a super empowering thing. Anyone who is taking a “things should only be this way” approach is just buying into the status quo.

[@tonymaw8582]

Do what you want with your shoes make it your own

[@bhekuzalogubevu3005]

Hi there. I'm a shoemaker interested in creating custom Jordans and dunks. What are legality in this regard and how does one get to do an agreed Collab like Jbf custom or lace up kustom? Your assistance will be highly appreciated

[@OfficialAmazing]

The blue shoes in the thumbnail look good

[@aemrico]

The child’s play "Chucky" vans were wat got me wanting to customize shoes, but not to have the unattainable. Just love chunky!

[@nikelife6126]

Finally someone in the loop isn’t afraid to say the off white over priced crap.

[@RedVelvetUnderground333]

This is like a high school project video

[@rawsanity27]

There is a huge difference between Collabs & Customs. They are totally different. Not even same ball park.

[@kamogelomasilo6551]

2:43 you innovate they hate , RIP VIRGIL 🙏🏼

[@d.felixphoto2260]

Pete with the quarantine haircut 2 years early.

[@sephmcfierce]

If you’re taking someone else’s product and using that as a basis of your design - whether you’re using your own materials or if you’re using a product customization tool provided by them - and they didn’t collaborate with you on the project, then it’s not a collaboration. Actually, simple put - if both companies didn’t collaborate together on the project, it’s not a collab.

[@truthseeker7061]

"Or completely re-imagining the shoe like shoe surgeon" ummm.. i'm sorry did you mean an obsessed snake-skin maniac ?

[@Certifiedhater247]

What is she even talking about. Times change for the better

[@DerekSwingen]

No meantion of FBBC? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@gordonannan9528]

Pete needs to fire his barber

[@Certifiedhater247]

“I have to disagree with yoooooou”

[@geezgoddamn]

sneakers are serious business

[@akashicentertainment]

fuck ya thank god someone mentioned (jbfcustoms) hes legit so is (@p.avin) check hi shoes out too

[@postworkout5884]

She don’t make any sense...🧐😤🤫

[@samc6194]

danyael Williams neither does your English mate

[@emmanuelabor]

danyael Williams not one bit

[@ngishngosh]

danyael Williams what part? I think she does actually

[@JakedeAsis]

She "doesn't" make sense. You "don't" make sense.

[@willschuemann6119]

she's pretty close minded, i agree

[@yellowkobe]

Why didn’t y’all edit her out? 🙄

[@lets7121]

I think that girl is jealous about something

[@Wolframandheart]

That girl is so wrong, ppl don't necessarily want customs to flex, they want custom to have individuality. It's that simple. (some ppl just want to disagree with everything)

[@name5156]

S I E R A T O

[@Spotlightadrian1]

Dat hair cut tho

[@FlyR7]

It's not counterfeit if you use original parts. Since you have the right to do what you want with a product after buying it. This means you can either use, collect, cut, paint, destroy or completley modify it. Now Making a shoe from the ground up with no original materials and completely copying it to be 1:1... and intending to sell it just like being the Original, well that's counterfeit and not a Custom at All.

[@tonymaw8582]

Hey everyone check out Missing since Thursday (on instagram) trust me you’ll thank me later

[@garyzhong1489]

these day you cant shit on anything

[@McCloud23892]

Who's the sneaker designer for the Balenciaga Triple S????? Sneaker designers should get acknowledged if these designs are original which most of the time they're NOT. As for Custom sneakers, is only cool for material fabrics. And Lil Jupiterr is just a colorway and midsole swapper on photoshop, we can all agree his not a shoe designer lol.

[@johnjohnkim4218]

This Korean girl where she from again?i don’t get it

[@lipergist2884]

Hello! My name is Stas. I am is Russia

[@quenvanwijk]

Hi

[@ChrisCataluna]

This was produced terribly...

[@McCloud23892]

word, they're using a lil dude still in high school who cut class, just to buy some new kicks.

[@jetman24]

I'm all in for customization but once you paint dragon ball or any other comic book character in all canvas then that's just tacky, that would be a cool display but you're a clown if you wear it.

[@jayrohena5094]

it's​ not Gucci its Louis Vuitton

[@Taskforce1]

host is akward af

[@collin1253]

Task just straight annoying lmao

[@ImDougDimmadome]

Might just be the haircut

[@creativemofoo]

Taskforce stupid haircut havin ass nerd. Keeps repeating himself over and over.

[@ndigogh]

Home girl sound a tad bitter

[@emmanuelabor]

Lil Jupiter just gathers other content. He/she doesn't DO shit. He fails to give proper credit too. Ol'girl really doesn't seem to know what the hell she's talking about. I feel like she just wanted to be contrary. Superkreep lost me...if you're remaking EXISTING shoe silos, you're a customizer....or a bootlegger. You pick. In the end tho, I don't even get the over arching question. The difference between custom and collaboration is obvious. Absurdly obvious. And for the record I am a customizer...have been for the better part of 17 years

[@iteitsmeok]

emmanuelabor the lady was lost this is what happens when you don't have the proper information.

[@souhailtag4588]

2nd 😂

[@DevonTheRealest]

Sneaker meme account 😤

[@jayrohena5094]

this was disgusting to watch, complex take over this idea

[@morganritchie7839]

1st

[@chriscain808]

gia lost me right away...

[@willschuemann6119]

bro the chick pissed me off hellas...

[@mr1asvegas784]

Ole girl had a problem with everything dude said. lmao

[@stansole3761]

Soooo you guys aren't gonna mention @fbccbayarea how disrespectful . . . smh

[@lets7121]

That girl ehhhh weird attitude " you got them customized to wear, because you want people to see a custom shoe" I would have stopped her right there and said NO, I got them because I like them. "Your buying into that mentality of having a thing thats on a pedastool" She explaining herself, but I DO NOT BUY CLOTHES FOR THAT REASON! A lot of Asian People do though so it makes sense she would be saying that. I buy/wear clothes for myself. Not so other people will think Im cool haha. How do you pick these two? Do they work as fashion designers? The dopest looking people can throw anything together, in any closet. bet.

[@slicknick645]

This woman makes no sense we all wear fashion rommto be seen wtf is she talking about 🤣🤣 who the he'll pays for a 1of 1 custom design to hang it on there wall and not wear it I disagree completely with her. The guy is speaking facts

[@chronicfish]

ppff .. millennials

[@gottablast9279]

These Louis Vitton customs are just pure cringe and wannabe stuff as fuck i dont get these stupid ppl who just cut out the logos and spray it onto the sneaker... Thats not a custom for me like the one women in the vid said

[@ROUNDZOFFLAME]

omg everything shes saying is AGAINST sneaker custom culture,....smh like C'mon

[@davidwhite5721]

Your all moaning about customs looking tacky blah blah blah if all the top companies did it you wouldn't have a problem also the big companies look at custom world and steal ideas so it's OK?

[@mlinecomposites1]

Every shoe seen in this video is not custom, it’s semi custom, because the shoe is already created, it’s also pretty annoying to only show Nike shoes with different paint schemes My approach to this is if you really wanna call something custom, make the shoe from scratch, and make it your own, not with some brand logo like Nike on it

[@lamarodom8479]

Hot take: almost all customs look cheap and tacky

[@McCloud23892]

Couldn't agree more, well said!

[@masterworks41]

The key has always been to make a sneaker look different subtlety but still be fresh and not cheesy.