Truly Customizable Kicks

Recently, the sneaker culture is exploding all over the mainstream media. Sneaker Pimps is touring the country, AT&T and Toyota both have commercials that highlight personalized & unique sneakers, I had no idea how enormous the sneaker world really is.

I came across TAGÜR, a brand that offers blanks for customization - and I mean they might produce your design! The site boasts "TAGÜR sneakers penetrate the minds and spirits of those with something to express and those who are becoming sick of the cookie cutter brands…" They have some retail designs to buy but like CURRENT TV, TAGÜR is a company that allows the consumer to become the producer --- altering your shoes significantly to show individual style.

Founder Wesley Williams said “the sneaker world hit a plateau after the millennium. The game was locked on retro kicks and reissued models. Things were growing stagnant and played out so we turned to more traditional creative methods through markers, paint, stencils and dyes. We reverted back to artistic expression over ‘limited’ mass production. In essence, we began to write on our shoes again and create for ourselves rather than waiting for something inspiring from the corporations.”

Customization is what seems to be setting this brand apart – everything seems to be customizable - cars, MP3 players, ear buds, cellphones. TAGÜR urges consumer artists to send pictures of their custom designs to info@tagur.com. Then they have the opportunity to be exhibited in a TAGÜR event where they’ll be admired and judged by the open market. If there is significant buzz about the design(s) TAGÜR will invest in you/your art to manufacture the design into a retail product. Their website has pictures of some of the art installations and shows, really different than what other major brands calling "custom."

TAGÜR shows embrace all art albeit urban contemporary, pop surrealism, lowbrow, etc… There is a plethora of talented artists both self taught and college trained who simply don’t have a stage to showcase their skills.

I've seen the major brands offer you choices of color, pattern, detail, etc., but this is truly an outlet for self-expression. I would think graffiti artists, graphic designers, photographers, all artsy fartsy types would want to showcase, and wear, their skills. No age or expertise requirements - I think it is a great idea for individual expression and an doubly interesting entrepreneurial idea.