Do you know how to customize sneakers? What are the steps to follow? Today we talked to one of our ambassadors @customsbysergio to learn more about how to customize sneakers with our paints.
Let's get started!
Hello! Introduce yourself and tell us how you started to get involved into the sneakers customization world.
Hey, how are you? I'm Sergio Domínguez, a 22 year old guy from Málaga (Spain) who professionally works in photography and video although in my free time I like to custom sneakers.
As I said, professionally I am a photographer and videographer, but I have always liked to draw. I perfected my drawing techniques in art school while preparing my professional career as a photographer. Besides, I have always loved the world of sneakers. During the 2020 quarantine, I researched websites, watched many videos and learned how to paint sneakers and by chance I had just bought a Nike AF1. I created my first customs, an AF1 with a pink donut style. I loved them so much that I decided to share them in my Instagram and the whole audience loved them. This was my beginning, where I realized that by taking sneakers and taking them to the art world, you could do some great things.
A few months later, due to demand, I decided to create an Instagram account (@customsbysergio) where I currently upload some of the customizations and videos of how I do them. Today the account has been active for 5 months with about 50 customizations and with a followers that I don't deserve. Every day I receive messages of support that are worth gold.
How should we prepare the shoes to start customizing them?
Although it may not seem like it, it is the most important part. Without a good preparation the paint would not be absorbed well due to the waxes.
That is why I always use the Sneaker Deglazer. Rubbing it with a cotton or microfiber wipe directly on the sneakers. In this way, we manage to eliminate that protective layer of waxes. This process is essential and my trick is always to pass several layers until you feel the leather.
Let's get to work! How do you customize your sneakers?
Once the sneakers are ready, it's time to paint them!
To start painting I always start with the biggest areas or the background; using brush and paint (pouring little by little), in very thin layers. To speed up the process I help myself with a hairdryer, but be careful not to burn the leather, always moving it in circles and 20 cm away from the sneakers. After painting several layers of the same color (until creating a homogeneous surface) I'm superimposing the colors that are needed, always starting with the internal zone and ending with the shape.
In the case of the sneakers I'm painting right now, I started with a yellow (80%) and a white (20%), to create the background moon. Then, with black (100%), I have superimposed the swoosh over the moon itself. To do this, I used a flat brush of a size approximately 10-12 although to make the details as the legs of Jack, I used a brush 000. It is quite important to have a variety of sizes and shapes in the brushes to be able to do any detail and even to speed up the process. A fact or a habit that I have is that, except for black and white, the rest of the colors I always use by mixing them.
Finishes and final protection.
This part is ESSENTIAL, with all capital letters, for different reasons: it is very important to protect the paint from the dust, dirt, scratches, etc. But the most important thing is to protect it with quality and reliable products, because a bad product could not work or even yellowing the shoe. Therefore, the product I use is the Neutral Base, because it protects, does not yellow and creates a semi-matt effect. Although sometimes I choose between the Sneaker Gloss Maker and the Matt Maker, it depends on what the customization is.
Something that I am often asked is how to keep a clean customs over time. Very simple, with every order placed at sneakercare they include Sneakers Wipes, which are used to clean any dirt you may have from daily use. However, the Sneakers Clean & Protect Kit, is a pack that includes special products for the care of the sneakers, so you can get a better cleaning and maintenance for a long period of time.
Curiosities: What does this world of sneakers mean to you? How many sneakers do you have?
For me, the world of sneakers is of great importance, since it identifies the personality and tastes of each person. In my daily life, before deciding what clothes I will wear, I choose the sneakers and from there I select the clothes that best match to create an outfit based on the shoes.
Although I would like to, I don't currently collect shoes, but this doesn't stop me from having a few pairs of shoes to choose from. Counting my sneakers, I have a total of 15 pairs. Although some I have kept for over 6 years, they are in perfect condition, as I clean them after some use and keep them properly.
Finally, I would like to add that I am totally willing to answer any questions my Instagram followers may have about this or any other sneaker topic. So, any doubt you may have I will be totally willing to solve it in @customsbysergio.
Thank you very much Sergio for your content and your great work!
