Alright, so I’ve been wanting to customize some cleats for a while now, and I finally decided to take the plunge with an Off-White theme. I’m no artist, but I figured, how hard could it be, right? Famous last words.
First things first, I got myself a pair of plain white cleats. Nothing fancy, just your basic, run-of-the-mill cleats. Then, I hit up the internet for some Off-White inspiration. I knew I wanted that signature look with the text and the zip-tie, so I started gathering my materials.
I grabbed some black fabric paint, a thin paintbrush, and a red zip-tie. I printed out some Off-White-style text on regular paper to use as a guide. I carefully started painting the words “SHOELACES” on the shoelaces and the iconic “AIR” on the side of the cleats. Let me tell you, painting on a curved, textured surface is way harder than it looks. My hands were shaking like I just drank a 12 of Red Bulls. It took some serious concentration to keep the lines somewhat straight. I definitely messed up a few times, but hey, that’s what wet wipes are for, right?
After I finished painting, I let them dry overnight. I was so nervous that the paint was going to smear, or just not stick. Luckily, it did dry nicely. It was not perfect, but it did resemble the “Off-White” look. Then came the fun part: attaching the zip-tie. I made a couple of small holes on the side of the cleats and threaded the zip-tie through. It was a tight squeeze, but I managed to get it on there.
- Plain white cleats
- Black fabric paint
- Thin paintbrush
- Red zip-tie
- Paper(for printing Off-White style text)
Materials
The final result? Well, they’re definitely not professional-grade, but I’m pretty stoked with how they turned out. They have that DIY charm, you know? Plus, I learned a lot about patience and how to steady my hand. It was a fun little project, and now I’ve got some one-of-a-kind cleats to rock on the field.
Would I do it again? Maybe. I think next time, I’d invest in some stencils or something to make the lettering cleaner. But overall, it was a cool experience. It feels good to create something with your own hands, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges. These will definitely help me play a better game! Or at least, that is what I am hoping for. Wish me luck.
