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Devlin Braswell has a story that’s all is own. As part of their #LetsElevate series, Toyota is spotlighting individuals who are out there out-working, out-thinking and out-lasting the competition; paving their own path to success. As you saw last week here, Devlin is indeed one of these strivers, navigating a uniquely personal path, having turned loss into love for a blooming life and career that’s both busy and beautiful.
Continuing as part of this inspiring story, we had the opportunity to speak with Devlin to hear more about his path to success, how he is elevating the game, and his thoughts on the sneaker culture.
Nice Kicks: When did you first start customizing kicks?
Devlin Braswell: I was a freshman at Queensborough Community College. I met this kid there and the Air Jordan 13s had just come out in White/Red. He had a pair and he had painted the part with the holes royal blue. I asked how’d how he got them in that color and he told me he painted them. Nobody was painting Jordans or any shoes then. I asked what type of paint and he showed me and I just started painting from there. He never painted another shoe, but I kept painting all my Jordans because that was all I wore.
When people saw me wearing them they’d ask where I got them from. My sister was in the army in Germany at the time, so I’d tell them that she sent them to me from there and that they get different Jordans overseas because I didn’t want anybody to have them! [Laughs] I was just doing them to stand out and be different in college. It started in 1997 because a classmate had done it and I just took inspiration and ran with it.
Nice Kicks: Career wise and customizing, what were your next moves after school?
Devlin Braswell: I was a professional barber for 10 years and I owned two barbershops. I was also actively doing sneakers for celebrities and other people back then, which helped me get the money to buy my own barbershop. I had sold my barbershop in 2001, a little bit after 9/11, because business wasn’t as good as before.
In 2003 I was 25, and I had that promise that I made to my sister that if I didn’t make it in clothes that I would give the military a try. When I turned 25, I thought it was time to come up on that promise I made my sister. I was playing in a basketball tournament and one of my customers from the barbershop was asking me what I was doing next. He told me he was joining the Coast Guard and that it was like the military but instead of killing people they saved people’s lives. At the time I still wasn’t interested, but I wished him the best. A couple of weeks later, I saw a bus that was advertising the Coast Guard. Then a couple months after that, I saw a commercial for the Coast Guard on TV. I believe in signs, and that was three signs, so I called and talked with the recruiter to be a reserve rather than active duty.
At that time I was helping my uncle with work. One day, I ran an errand for him in Bed-Stuy and somebody just started shooting. This guy stood over this dude and started shooting. [Right after that] I called the recruiter and said, “Hey, if you can get me into boot camp immediately, I will switch from reserve to active duty.” A month later I was in boot camp.
The funny thing is when I was in boot camp they asked me why I joined and I told them about the signs. They laughed at me because they said they didn’t have commercials. To this day they still don’t have commercials so it was probably a sign.
Nice Kicks: How did your time in the military help sharpen the work ethic we see today on your custom work?
Devlin Braswell: Being in the military taught me determination. One thing that I got from the military that helps me in customizing which is a bad thing but a good thing is that it gave me chronic insomnia. I don’t sleep as much as I should and it allows me to work more. Me as one person, I’m able to work as if I’m three people because I sleep four hours and I’m up 20. It’s hard [Laughs] but we work it out. But it’s really just the self perseverance that you can do whatever you want and the discipline.
I eventually got out of the military to go to fashion school. I don’t want anybody to think that it’s okay to quit your job or school to just paint shoes– that’s not going to do it for you. It’s not okay to quit what you’re doing and not work and not go to school.
