Man, today was a mission. I’ve been trying to customize a pair of Air Jordan 1s, turning them into a green and yellow masterpiece. Let me tell you, it’s been quite the journey from start to finish.
First off, I hit up the stores, looking for the perfect base shoe. I went to many stores, I was looking for that specific Air Jordan 1 Low OG Oxidized Green that was at one of the stores. But after walking into almost every sneaker store in the mall, I ended up finding a basic white pair of Air Jordan 1s. Not exactly what I was picturing, but hey, it’s a start, right? They were about $140, but with a nice little discount I snagged them for a bit less. Happy days!
Getting My Hands Dirty
Next up, the fun part – or so I thought. I laid out all my materials: green and yellow leather paint, some brushes, masking tape, and a whole lot of newspaper to keep things tidy. I started by taping off the areas I didn’t want to paint. This part took ages! Gotta make sure those lines are crisp, you know?
Then came the painting. Let me tell you, painting shoes is no joke. It’s not like slapping paint on a wall. You gotta be precise, patient, and ready to do multiple coats. I started with the green, carefully applying it to the toe box, heel, and swoosh. Each layer had to dry completely before the next one, so I was pacing around, checking them every few minutes like a nervous parent.
The Waiting Game
- First coat of green: Looked a bit patchy.
- Second coat: Better, but still not quite there.
- Third coat: Now we’re talking! Solid, vibrant green.
After the green was sorted, I moved on to the yellow. This was for the accents – the wings logo, the tongue, and a few other bits and pieces. The yellow was a bit trickier; it needed more coats to really pop against the white and green. I think I ended up doing about four coats of yellow, maybe even five. Lost count after a while, to be honest.
Finishing Touches
Once all the painting was done, I had to let them dry properly. I left them overnight, just to be sure. The next day, I peeled off the masking tape, which was super satisfying, revealing those clean lines I worked so hard for. There were a few tiny spots where the paint bled a little, but nothing major. A little touch-up here and there, and they were looking pretty good.
To finish them off, I applied a clear sealant over the paint to protect it from scuffs and scratches. This was probably the easiest part of the whole process. Just a quick spray, let it dry, and boom – custom Air Jordan 1s, green and yellow style.
It was a lot of work, a lot of waiting, and a few moments of “What am I even doing?” But in the end, seeing the finished product, it was all worth it. They might not be perfect, but they’re mine, and I made them. That’s a pretty cool feeling.
