HARDWARE
I used to leave the mall bitching and moaning about crummy-looking sneakers, but my experience at Customatix.com has taught me to appreciate the hidden complexities of shoe design.
Customatix.com is a new site that lets you craft a pair of athletic shoes for the same price as brand-name kicks. Unlike Nike's similar program, Nike iD, this site lets you personalize every inch of your sneakers - tongues, soles, and even stitches can be manipulated. You choose from skate or running shoes or boots and then opt for one of nine styles - leaving you with millions of combinations.
I was daydreaming about new skate shoes when I entered the site, but after some deliberation I chose the trainers as my blueprint. It was fun deciding whether pink stitches and blue mesh were gonna fly on the black pavement of the b-ball court, but the headaches started when I was forced to pick from 35 different shoelaces. I didn't care about the color of my laces; I was more excited by the fact that I could hit the streets with my dog's name emblazoned on the heels.
When I opened the USPS box and saw my masterpieces two weeks later, I realized why I'm not a shoe designer; I don't know jack about color combinations and materials. I ran, biked, and hiked in these babies, and they were supercomfy, providing great support and cushioning. But, damn, they were ugly. What was I thinking when I picked baby blue and pastel pink?! The shoe style was hot, the colors were not, and unfortunately there was no way for me to blame Customatix.com. Next time I'll trust the referees at Foot Locker to tell me what looks phat.
Custom sneakers: $65-100. Customatix.com: www.customatix.com.
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