Sneakerologist: Very insightful... Do you work on only Converse Chuck Taylors or are there other kinds of shoes as well?

Nimeesh: Hmm... Yes, I like working on Chuck Taylors as it has a lot of area to work on, unlike other shoes which already have different layers overlapping each other. Converse and similar sneakers acts like a blank canvas. Leather shoes are hard to paint and very time consuming as you first have to get that waxed layer off the leather which gives it the shine and then after painting you have to re-wax the leather again to give that shine back and to protect the leather.

Sneakerologist: How about sneakers like the Nike AF1? That shoe is a global favorite when it comes to customization. Have you had a chance to do up any of them yet?

Nimeesh: You are absolutely right brother.....Nike AF1 rocks, but I haven't got a chance to work on them yet. But someday I really want to lay my hands on one. One can use multiple colours on them and still they look awesome. Try doing it on converse and you might just mess things up.

Sneakerologist: You should try your art on a pair of AF1's sometime, should be fun... Have you met or know of other people who are into customizing sneakers like yourself?

Nimeesh: I'll soon try AF1 bro...yes, I have met few people on Orkut.com who are also into customizing but they only do it for themselves. But I haven't got a chance to meet someone like that personally.

Sneakerologist: So how many shoes have you customized for your friends/clients so far? And what kind of designs do people prefer to have on their sneakers? Do they come with specific ideas or do you recommend designs on your own?

Nimeesh: It has been a humble beginning so far. As far as I remember I started with painting my own shoes there was no inspiration behind it but it was a need at that time. Then it slowly steadily took off... Do not remember exactly how many pairs, but quite a few.
As far as customers are concerned, most of the people I meet are unsure of what they want or what will look good - just like the way people are confused when they go for their first tattoo. And that's where I try to help - the way I do it is I first try to understand their personality, their like/dislikes and then suggest the designs. For example, if a guy comes to me who is into rap, hip hop, etc., I won't suggest to get a hard rock or a skull kind of custom art. Instead, I'll give him something like graffiti influenced design.

But yes not everybody is confused some people are very demanding they know what they want and will keep on grilling you until they get what they want. I prefer genuine/original design, and even when a person comes to me with a image I'll try to customize so that it doesn't look copied. And just like my paint brush, my laptop and Photoshop are equally important to me. Photoshop helps a lot when you try to convert an image, and it also helps my clients as they can get an fair idea of what their shoe will look like after the paint job.
But at the end of the day it all depends on what client wants. Like they say, customer is the king, lol.

Sneakerologist: What kind of paints do you use on the sneakers, and how long does it take for you to pimp up a pair of sneakers?

Nimeesh: I use acrylic paints and normal brushes but the treatment is special and i guess I'll prefer keeping it to myself (trade secret, you know) And for Converse Chuck Taylors, primer is not required as it has a fabric base. The brushes I use are very thin and since this involves being very detailed, you need good concentration and a steady hand. There is no room for error but if by accident I make a mistake, then I let the paint dry and then paint over it again. Once the paint dries, the colors don't mix up, unlike water colours.
It takes around 24hours for the paint to dry, so I give 2 to 3 days time to my clients - this also includes time required for creating/painting the design.

Sneakerologist: How do you spread the word around about your work? I have seen your profile on Orkut.com, but besides that what other medium do you use for publicity?

Nimeesh: I'm not into mass publicity as of now. You can look at it the same way tattoo artists do - just word of mouth publicity. Besides, I cater to a very niche market so not everyone and anyone is interested.

Sneakerologist: Hope your customization business really takes off... Earlier you told me that you were doing a business administration course. So in the meanwhile, if you start making enough money through customizing sneakers to be able to go full time, what would you choose to be? A business manager or sneaker customizer?

Nimeesh: Thanks brother...I am really serious about this business. So if things turn out well and I see enough scope in it to convert it into full fledged business then why not! This is what I love doing, so what can be better than continuing with it.

Sneakerologist: How long do you think does your artwork last on the shoes? Let's say, in case of a customized Converse Chuck Taylor?

Nimeesh: well it all depends how you treat your shoes. But it will last for a year at least or more. And because the paint is wash proof and gets absorbed in the shoe fabric so well, it doesn't chip off easily. And when cleaning, wash gently...if you rub the shoe with a hard brush to clean, then here are chances you might harm the paint job.

Sneakerologist: What do you normally charge to do up a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors?

Nimeesh: Well brother, the price of the shoe depends on the work involved. The minimum i charge is Rs. 500 ($10) a pair and it goes up to Rs. 2000 ($40) a pair. For example, a basic design like a skull or flames will cost Rs. 500 and then added design like some graffiti kinda design, or a bands logo, etc will cost around Rs.1000 ($20). And the most expensive ones are the faces of people - be it your favorite music artist or the revolutionary Che Guevara.

Sneakerologist: Have you had a chance to compare your work with experienced customizers (could be outside of India and you might have seen the pictures on the net)? How far or close do you think you are compared to them in terms of quality and detail?

Nimeesh: I haven't got a chance to personally meet or compare my work with them. But yes I have seen the work of some artists and they were like amazing. So much detail with amazing precision. Some of them work professionally for rappers and brands like Nike. As far the quality of the work is concerned, it remains the same, more or less. But better detailing comes with time and practice.

Sneakerologist: So what is your next step? How about a website of your own once you have enough customizations to showcase?

Nimeesh: You can read my mind or what...lol! Yes, this is on the cards too. Once I have enough work to showcase and have good client base, I'll surely move onto a more organized form. A website, or and even a place to showcase my work (a store) or something like that...

Sneakerologist: Every customizer has their own unique style. So if you had to describe your style in one word, what would it be?

Nimeesh: I would say my style is free hand design, mostly inspired from tattoo or Indian designs. I also try to get as much detailing as possible into these themes.

Sneakerologist: It was great talking to you. Frankly, I never had a chance to meet a sneaker customiser in India before. We hope you get to customize hundreds of sneakers and eventually open your own website and a store. Any famous last words before we wrap this up?

Nimeesh: It was a pleasure meeting you brother! Had a really wonderful session bro and enjoyed the conversation with you! Keep up the good work...

I can be reached at: custom.shoes@hotmail.com
Or leave a message/scrap on my Orkut profile ("Custom Converse"):

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Profile.aspx?uid=5168794219464980942