How to Customize Your Air Force 1s Like the Nike Master Workshop

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words by @MrsTeriyaki, photos by @Rago___

In 2017 we saw a rise in the number of interactive events between brand and consumer. The Nike x Off-White launch saw numerous workshops of different genres take place across the globe. And as memories and experiences naturally become a part of us and embed themselves, there is no wonder projects are rolling out more and more. It is not only a deeper way to engage the people but it becomes an integral part of the whole campaign.

More recently we saw Nike bring Air Force 1 workshops to Complex Con, Solebox Dubai and now Nordstrom LA. To sit alongside their huge 2017 campaign for the ever-classic AF1, the Swoosh brought numerous different customization methods and let delegates create a unique pair of the silhouette. Decals, pins, ribbon, markers, paint, the list goes on of the exploration options to hand. The part I found the most exciting was the dying tanks where you could submerge your shoes in any colour you liked to any strength of colour you liked.

Sadly, I couldn’t make it to any of these workshops, they didn’t come to the U.K.

So, I decided to do my own. And I’m going to show you how.

I chose to customize the Air Force 1, just like the #AF100 Master Workshop. But this technique would work on any white leather silhouette. Once you get an idea in mind, sketch it out, jot it down, just record it somehow so then you can list what materials you need to achieve it. Otherwise, you’ll finish the project with something half as good.

The key piece of advice I would give after doing this custom myself is to take the dying stage nice and easy. I have amended the mixture measurements from those I used in my How To video, and I would suggest quick dips as this is all non-reversible. Beware that the sole takes on the colour very heavily too.