Design Your Own Sneakers

For many people originality is the most desirable trait in fashion. These people sew their own clothes or paint outlandish designs on their t-shirts. Finding original sneakers is somewhat more problematic, especially since everyone is drawing on their Chucks these days. Thankfully, many shoe manufacturers are stepping into the gap an allow you to design your own sneakers with their online color and style selectors.

For instance, you can design your own sneakers through idNike.com. This website allows you to customize your color combination on hundreds of different Nike styles. All of Nike’s shoes for sports and running are listed on their website. You get to select three custom colors to create a shoe in honor your favorite sports team or your school colors.

There are other sites that let you go a little wilder when you design your own sneakers. A British company called Mes Footwork manufactures a soft sided sneaker reminiscent of Chuck Taylors. You first choose high or low tops. Then you pick the colors for the shoe base, laces, tounge, and backstrip. Mes Footwork allows you to truly customize your sneakers by allowing you to upload any image to their site. They will take this image – it can even be your own original artwork – and print it on your shoe for you.

The Keds website offers a great step by step method for designing your own sneakers. You aren’t allowed as much freedom as Mes Footwork, but it is great for those with less artistic confidence. First, you choose from a selection of background colors and patterns for each part of the shoe. Then you are allowed to upload images or add text to any part of the shoe you want. There are hundreds of fonts from which to choose as you design your own sneakers.

Most originally designed sneakers are more expensive then off the shelf varieties. They can range anywhere from $60 for the Keds to well over $100 for the Nikes. However, if you value originality and want your shoes to be a conversation starter, they are well worth the price.