Everything You Need To Customize Sneakers

 Customizing your sneakers can seem like a daunting task if you don't know where to start or which products to use. I'm here to break down all the supplies you'll need and what they are used for, so you can get right into making your sneakers not only one of a kind, but durable and wearable too! 

These supplies are not listed in order of use, and some aren't a total necessity and can be purchased later on as you build up your supply stash. 

Below, you can click on the product listed and you'll be taken directly to my Amazon shop or Angelus' site to order.  

• Angelus Paint- These paints are made specifically for customizing sneakers and other leather products. Don't worry, they also have additives so you can use their paints on fabrics too. They have the largest variety of colors and types and are considered the industry standard. Their bottles come in handy 1oz sizes all the way up to a quart. They have different lines of paints such as metallics, neons, glitters, and even a Collector Edition line which are the perfect color matches to your favorite pair of Jordans. 

• Sandpaper- When working on leather shoes, sandpaper is used to rough up the leather to really give the paint something to grip to. I use the grits 400, 800, and then 1400.

• Acetone/Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer- This product is an absolute MUST. It removes the factory finish on leather shoes so you can paint directly onto the material. 

• Cotton Pads- I like to use cotton pads with the acetone rather than balls as there are less fibers to get left behind on the shoe. 

• Heatgun-  A heatgun is a necessity for sneaker customizing when working with fabrics such as canvas because you have to mix your paint with an additive called 2Soft, which requires heat setting. It also is helpful to speed up the drying process in general. You may be thinking 'I could just use a hairdryer', but they typically don't get hot enough for actual heat setting to take place. 

• 2-Soft- This is an additive you can mix with your paints when using on fabrics to keep them soft, flexible and non cracking. Once you are done applying to the fabric it must be heat set with a heatgun for 3-5 minutes. Instructions for use and how much to use are of course always listed on the bottle.

• Tape- I like to use masking tape or painters tape which is great for blocking off sections of the shoe you don't want to get paint on. You can also use this tape to make your own stencils, which I have a tutorial for right on my Instagram page!

• Transfer Paper- If you don't like the tape method for stencil making, you can of course always use the trusty transfer paper method so it's always nice to have a roll of that around. 

• Detail Knife- Working with tape you're definitely always going to want a sharp new knife.

• Paint Palettes 

• Water Cup- This one is my absolute favorite! It features a textured bottom to clean your brush with, along with spots to hold your paint brushes and a drip tray. Each part is removable for easy cleaning!

• Paintbrushes- Angelus has a great line of brushes from super large to super tiny and everything in between. 

• Brush Cleaner- Unlike me, you're going to actually want to keep your brushes clean. Lifehack, add a bit of cleaner right to your water cup and you can get your brushes squeaky clean between paint colors. 

• Toothpicks- Believe it or not you can actually use toothpicks for painting those really thin lines. I personally don't like using them, but I think they are a product every sneaker artist should try at least once! You may end up loving them! You can also use them to scrape up dried paint on the midsoles. 

• Alcohol Wipes- An unusual product but an absolute necessity for me. They take off excess paint on midsoles and leather really efficiently and aren't as messy as acetone and cotton pads. 

• Pointed Qtips- Great for getting into the crevices and small spaces of sneakers for clean up with acetone.

• Paint Storage Jars

• Angelus Leather Dye- Not something I use daily but wanted to make sure I added to the list. 

• Angelus 4-Coat Finisher- Once you are finished with your custom paint job you MUST seal in your art with a finisher. Angelus has a new line called 4-Coat with sheens that range from Flat to High Gloss. No other product needed, just apply right over your (fully dry) paint to protect.

SUPPLIES FOR STENCIL CREATION 

• Cricut Maker- If transfer paper or tape just isn't your jam, you can purchase a stencil creating machine called the Cricut. You don't have to have the exact 'Maker' model to make stencils, they have cheaper options aswell. 

• Vinyl- With the Cricut machine you are going to need vinyl which is what the stencil is made out of and what the machine cuts. You only need plain black, no special sheen needed as you'll just be removing it and throwing it away after use. 

• Transfer Tape- Having a roll of transfer tape is extremely useful as it picks up the stencil and all its parts and makes it easy to transfer and apply to your shoe. 

• Cricut Mats- This is what the vinyl sheet is stuck on to to put into the machine to cut it. I've only ever needed the green mat for vinyl cutting but if you get the 'Maker' version of the machine it's able to cut different materials  and you would then need the different mat colors to go with said material.

• Cricut 5 Piece Tool Bundle- The tweezers and weeder in this set come in handy to prepare the tiny details of the stencil and weed pieces out. 

• Cricut Paper Cutter- This is used to cut the vinyl roll into perfect sheets for you to put onto the mat. Not essential but definitely helpful. 

SUPPLIES FOR AIRBRUSHING 

• ANGELUS x GREX Airbrush

• 2-Thin- Angelus paints are also airbrush compatible, you just need to mix their paints with 2-Thin to thin it out and prepare it. 

• Strainer- After you have your paint mixture, you are ALWAYS going to want to run it through a strainer to catch any dried paint clumps so they don't get caught in your airbrush and clog the whole operation! 

• Cleaning Pot- Great for emptying the airbrush out in between colors and to spray the airbrush cleaner into after a session to really clear it out throughly.

• Airbrush Cleaner- This one works great and has no funky smell to it. 

• Cleaning Brushes- When you take your airbrush apart to clean it, these little pipe cleaner like brushes and needles work excellent for the tiny crevices.

• Cake Stand- A cheap and effective way to rotate your shoe as you're airbrushing. 

• Respirator- A MUST to invest in when using an airbrush is a good respirator to protect your lungs from the tiny particles of paint, additives, and cleaner that fly through the air when using. Also be sure to work in properly ventilated areas. 

Congratulations! You've made it through the list!

If you have any questions or want to learn more, I now have a subscription button available right on my Instagram profile where I offer mentoring. I give you all the tips, tricks, and advice I know and you can ask me any and every question you have too! Once subscribed, feel free to send me a DM or email right away. 

Be sure to also give my YouTube and Instagram Reels a watch for tutorials and tips on sneaker customizing!

 Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I make a small percentage of the sale. No additional cost to you whatsoever, but it does support me alittle! :)