I have tons of crappy old sneakers. Most times I just throw them out and get a new pair. But some sneakers I have are worth hanging on to, even if they are not in the best of shape. My brother, a sneakerhead, had to assist me on this craft. I have tried numerous times to upscale or recycle old sneakers. I have never once been successful. This time, I was determined to make it happen.

I used a pair of Nike Air Jokuls from 1999. They were white, dirty and discolored. You need a lot of time, patience and a list of supplies. The end product, if done correctly, is a pair of upcycled couture sneakers.

Supplies:

Sole Sauce
Angelus Acrylic Paints for leather Paint tape
Paint brushes
New laces
Acetone and cotton swabs

Steps:

Wash the sneakers and remove any dirt or debris. Let them air dry. Take Sole Sauce, apply to affected area and cover with clear plastic wrap. Put it in the sunlight for a few hours. Wash off and pat dry. Repeat if necessary!

Make sure shoes are completely dry. Wipe them down with acetone and a cotton swab. This will make sure paint really stays on the surface. Go lightly. Then you need to map out what you want to paint. Use the paint tape to tape off areas. Make sure to use a fingernail or credit card to really press down on the tape so nothing leaks through. Remove laces and really cover all areas you don’t want to paint on. I recommend getting paint that matches the base color of sneakers, in case there is some bleeding through and to use in areas of wear and tear and discoloration on leather.

Once you have taped everything off, apply the paint. Spray on the paint with a handheld airbrush sprayer. If you don’t have one, use a small brush. I sprayed mine and then did touchups freehand with a small-tip, acrylic, firm brush. If completely hand-painting, you will want to either use a stencil brush or even foam. Angelus paint you can purchase online, but it’s also carried at mainstream craft stores. I used bronze metallic. Any metallic paint is harder to keep even, so keep that in mind. I gave it three thin coats, waiting about three hours in between coats. I let the sneakers cure for 24 hours before removing the tape.

When you remove tape you will most likely have a little bleed through. Correct by using the base-colored paint and a small-tip brush. I waited about 12 more hours and then added my new laces.

Now, you can enter into a sneaker contest and dedicate your win to me.

By Jamie Burke