Qustom Queen
Custom Kicks
We're proud and honoured to welcome one of the worlds finest sneaker customisers- Qustom Queen to the Custom Kicks Series.
She has been working her socks off, and burning the candle at both ends to finish this prehistoric, darwin-esk, heat sensitive design on a retro pair of Adicolor G2.
It still fascinates me to this day. I would never say I invented it - everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere, I found it totally by accident looking for something else, then had an idea to use some fabric off one of the old hypercolor tees, couldnt find one so continued the search, eventually researching the technology behind the tees and after a few attempts with different additives and different mixes, the heat sensitive paint was born.
Since winning the 2007 UUFA, has your career as designer blossemed?
I think my profile has been raised by it due to the media attention at the time, and the snazzy title of the UK's Best Customizing Designer, but I am still continuing as I was before. I'm grateful for the publicity that I received but dont want to ride by on it. I happy to be recognised for my work and continuing achievements.
Do you have a favourite pair of customs?
My first heat sensitive customs are my favourites to this day. I really felt like I had achieved something, and the feedback I got from them was insane. When the video was originally posted on youtube alot of people thought it was special effects and two different pairs of shoes.
What have you got anything big planned for 2009?
Sure do. I am going to put together a few events throughout the course of the year, I rarely get to see peoples reactions face to face on my work since most of my orders are from customers online. The first show I ever did in Cargo, London in May 2007 was amazing - it was the unveilling of the heat sensitive kicks and the reactions I got were so positive, I loved the looks on peoples faces when I put the heat on the shoes and they changed colour. I am also looking to get funding to collaborate on a youth project with a Scottish charity.
Do most of your customs go across the pond to the U.S.?
The majority of them do, yes, but actually my customer base in the UK is really growing I am happy to say. I'm glad that my little craft is gathering speed, the question 'So what do you do for a living' is getting slightly easier to answer too.
What was the inspiration for this Adicolor's?
Well, those who know me, will know I've always had an issue with the interpretation of 'customisation' in most senses, it is definately personalisation rather than customisation. Being able to change the laces, to me, is not customising. Being able to change some aesthetic features of the shoes to suit personal preference, and have a design that is individual to me is what customisation is all about. For this pair, after first removing the extremely thick coating and paint to get to the leather underneath, I removed the plastic lace sections and added lace holes the whole way up the shoe to get the base the way i wanted it. (that is one of the things that only real customisation can offer - changing the shape and functional features of the shoe) The actual design is based on the evolution of man, but with a twist, you'll notice out of the figure outlines, on the last two, one is carrying some trainers on the end of a spear, and the final 'man' is wearing them. I also put customised insoles in there, a digitized fingerprint design, to represent individuality and a symbol for what I term as real customisation. The colorway for the shoe is simple, with an aged/earth appearance in contrast to the denim colour which changes to a pale aqua in the presence of heat.
The evolution theme came about as a result of the many hours of research, progress and learning that many customisers have put in to this craft to really make it grow in to what it is today - it really has evolved immensely even from what it was when I first lifted a brush. To add a bit of the Qustom flavour, I went with a heat sensitive design.... just because I can.
From start to finish, these took a little longer than expected. I have been known to change my design at the last minute, and this was definately one of those occasions. The actual working time on this pair was approximately 23 hours split over a few weeks. The heat sensitive additive in the paint is very transparent, and as a result, is difficult to get an even finish, so great care and attention has to be taken at that stage - it is also very difficult to paint evenly due to the fact that it changes colour! All this and trying to match the 'warm colour' with the colour of the midsole is a bit of a challenge. It really is a very 'hands off' technique that I use when applying it, and involves many trips between an open window and the hairdryer. The 'aged' design was applied after taking a walk out to my front garden and lifting a handful of our planets earth - it has so many different shades of brown, I think I incorporated most of them. Overall I am very happy with the finished design - I have previously never used that base or that particular colourway, again, it was a last minute change! Sometimes you just have to roll with a 'better' idea when you get it.
Oh, and I customised the box too.
Have you had any famous customers? - who?
I've had a few celebrity clients, designed for JayZ, Memphis Bleek, Simon Webbe has a few pairs as do his own artists and entourage, Stush (Groove Armada)... My work was on display at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival earlier this year and DJ J Period picked up a pair of CSI customs, and KRS-1 is interested in getting a pair designed after viewing my work at the festival. I am always flattered when people choose me to customise their shoes whoever they are.
Ooh I dont know if I can... ok then since its you. I'm heading over to New York in February and planning a private sneaker art party 'somewhere in Manhattan' details to be released. Very exclusive, guestlist only event.
What keeps you awake at night?
The last two nights I have been painting until the wee small hours of the morning which is not unusual. I get lost in what I'm doing and totally loose track of time. 2am I put the brush down at last night then was up early with my daughter in the morning... will most likely do the same tonight. I sleep with a notebook and pen in my bedside drawer (amongst other things) because I have really strange dreams so I take note of them incase I forget by the morning, then go look them up in my dream encyclopedia the next morning.
