Category: Custom

Supra Skytop Red Patent (2008)

A look back at Supra’s bold Red Patent Skytop from September 2008, featuring a glossy red patent-leather upper, white accents, and limited retailer availability.

Back in September 2008, Supra’s Red Patent Skytop was one of the season’s most eye-catching releases. The high-top silhouette was finished in glossy red patent leather, giving the shoe a bold, almost liquid shine, while a clean white sole and white accents provided contrast.

The colorway had originally been expected earlier in the summer, but its release was pushed back. By September, the shoes were arriving at Supra retailers. Contemporary sneaker coverage noted that availability was limited, and recommended contacting local Supra dealers for a pair.

The Red Patent Skytop was part of Supra’s Fall 2008 NS lineup, a collection that leaned into statement-making materials and fashion-forward styling. It captured the energy of the late-2000s Skytop era, when Supra was pushing skate footwear into a more expressive streetwear space.

Red patent leather Supra Skytop high-top with white sole and white eyelet accents
Red patent Supra Skytop reference image. Image source: GOAT.

For more from the original release coverage, see Nice Kicks’ September 2008 feature on the Supra Skytop Red Patent.

Roberto Coin’s $31,000 Golden Sneakers: Olympic Luxury in 2008

In 2008, luxury jeweler Roberto Coin brought a little Olympic shine to sneaker culture with an extraordinary pair of gold-covered sneakers created to celebrate the Beijing Summer Games.

24-karat gold, leather and a ruby signature

The Golden Sneaker was crafted from nappa leather treated with 24-karat gold and finished with a protective PVC lacquer film. An 18-karat yellow-gold clasp completed the design, along with Roberto Coin’s signature ruby detail. The reported original price was $31,000 — far beyond the cost of an everyday pair of sneakers.

The concept blended footwear, fine jewelry and the excitement surrounding the 2008 Olympics. Rather than a performance shoe made for competition, it was a luxury statement piece: a sneaker designed to celebrate the Games through precious materials and unmistakable shine.

A memorable moment in sneaker culture

Gold sneakers have always had a place in sneaker style, but Roberto Coin took the idea in a very different direction. The Golden Sneaker treated the familiar shape of a sneaker like a piece of jewelry, turning leather footwear into an extravagant collector’s item.

More than a decade later, the pair remains a striking example of how designers can bring together fashion, jewelry and sneaker culture. It was bold, unusual and certainly not made for anyone looking for a budget-friendly everyday shoe.

Historical note: The $31,000 figure is the reported 2008 asking price, not a current market valuation. Contemporary coverage described the materials and Olympic inspiration; see Fibre2Fashion’s August 2008 report for more details.

#SneakerCulture #LuxurySneakers #RobertoCoin #Beijing2008 #GoldSneakers

Making Custom Sneakers: Bring Out Your Creativity

Bring out your creativity and be bold—make your sneakers your own. A plain pair of kicks can become a personal statement with a little imagination, patience and the right materials. Whether you love bold colors, clean graphic patterns, street-art inspiration or something completely original, customizing sneakers gives you a chance to wear your creativity instead of keeping it on a sketchpad.

Open the original custom sneakers video on YouTube if the embedded player does not load.

Black Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers customized with a glossy painted finish
Custom-painted Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, photographed January 23, 2004. Photo by ElCidSG via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Your sneakers. Your canvas.

Start with a pair of sneakers you already own or a simple, inexpensive pair you are comfortable experimenting on. Think about the look you want before you pick up a brush. You could build a design around your favorite colors, create geometric shapes with masking tape, add hand-drawn illustrations, try a graffiti-inspired pattern, or give each shoe a different design that still works as a pair.

Make the idea come to life

  • Plan your design: Sketch it on paper first. Decide where the colors, lettering and artwork will go.
  • Prepare the shoes: Remove the laces, clean the surface and use a material-appropriate preparer. Protect the areas you do not want painted.
  • Choose the right materials: Use flexible leather paint for suitable leather surfaces and fabric paints or fabric medium for canvas and textiles. Test products on a small, inconspicuous area first.
  • Build your colors: Apply thin layers and let each layer dry. Use brushes for details, paint pens for lines and stencils or tape for crisp patterns.
  • Finish with care: Follow the paint maker’s instructions for curing and use a compatible finisher when recommended. Keep paint off the outsole’s walking surface so you do not create a slippery shoe.

Don’t be afraid to stand out

The best part of customizing sneakers is that there are no rules for your personal style. Go subtle with a few color accents or go all out with a design that turns heads. Add meaningful symbols, original artwork, patterns or a color combination nobody else is wearing. You do not have to be a professional artist to start—experiment, learn as you go and let your personality lead the way.

Make something that looks like you. Be creative. Be bold. Make your own statement.

#graphic #GraphicDesign #CustomSneakers #SneakerArt #DIYStyle #CreativeExpression