A month into the new year and sneaker customization is picking up right from where it left off. In case you’re unaware, we’re taking a look at the best customs month by month.
While it wasn’t easy to pick the best ten from January due to a lot of great work and artistic inspiration, January has set the bar high for the months to follow in 2019. From Air Force 1s in all shapes and colors, to astronomical Air Jordan vibes and even a shoutout to the West Coast, January 2019 brought out the customizers and their best work.
Take a look at the best customs we saw this past month. Let us know which ones were your favorites on IG. Be sure to use the #NiceKicksCustoms hashtags for a better chance to get featured next month.
Nike Air Force 1 High “WWII”
+ The Air Force 1 High always had a military-ready look. This custom adopted that idea and manifested it into reality
+ The upper of this pair was designed with a military tent cloth and was crafted to look aged and distressed for a war-like feel
adidas NMD R_1 “Japanese”
+ The silhouette used for this custom was the white iteration of the adidas NMD Japan Pack that dropped in fall 2017
+ The upper illustrates Japan with a blue sky, cherry blossoms and the flag of Japan on top of it all
Bespoke Nike Air Force 1 Low “Lights Out”
+ This Bespoke AF1 was inspired by the closure of the famous Toys-R-Us as it invokes nostalgia (and even has a giraffe-like tongue as an ode to the store’s mascot)
+ The shoe also features patent leather backtabs with “Toys” embroidered on it and also has 3M on the Swooshes. Straight fire
CDG x Supreme x Air Jordan 3 “Tinker”
+ The Shoe Surgeon combined some of the hottest brands in streetwear for this one of a kind custom that is a grail for many
+ Sneaker legend and reigning Kicks On Court Champion PJ Tucker rocked the pair in-game for the Houston Rockets
Nike Cortez “UNDFTD”
+ The Nike Cortez is a staple shoe for East LA and the West Coast in general as it was popularized within pop-culture
+ It’s only fair that the LA-friendly Cortez gets a custom inspired by the Los Angeles boutique-exclusive Air Jordan 4 colorway
Nike Air Force 1 Low “Blue Dye”
+ The AF1 Low, also known as the Uptowns, has been popularized within East Coast rap as a must-have for everyday wear
+ The multi-Swoosh AF1 Low goes hard with the distressed touch that Inner Alchemy throws on
Air Jordan 3 “KAWS Companion”
+ The Air Jordan 3 is one of the most timeless Air Jordans to date given its Swoosh-less design as well as its innovative elephant print detail
+ KAWS has influenced every aspect of pop-culture from music to sneakers. After the coveted Air Jordan 4 “KAWS,” the inspiration for KAWS-like customs has skyrocketed
Nike Air Max 1 “TNF”
+ The Nike Air Max 1 pushed the boundaries of technology and performance when it debuted in 1987 with an exposed Air unit
+ The North Face has become integrated to the world of streetwear due to its aesthetic appeal, its versatility and ultimately its collabs with Supreme
Air Jordan 1 “Galaxy”
+ The red “Wings” logo along with the white outsole give the pair a stellar contrast that makes it pop
+ The Air Jordan 1 goes out of this world with subtle yet detailed cosmic touches along the Swoosh, toe box and back heel area
Nike Air Force 1 Low “Linear Distortion”
+ The minimalism of this AF1 goes a long way since different angles of the shoe portray an illusion
+ Depending on the angle you look at the shoe, the Swoosh either looks like it’s caving in or it seems as though that it is sticking out
