Paint Tests!

The first hurdle is finding a medium that is better suited to this product than sharpie paints and fixative spray. Although they create a light water resistant finish, I need something more heavy duty. I sold one pair in 2010 only to find out the customer had worn them on a long rainy walk and now the colours had run. This is not the a standard I am happy with.

I have done some tests with some paint samples I received from fashion textiles. They are water-based but once sealed with heat provide a durable water resistant cover that doesn't crack from movement. In these tests I have just been gaging how much water and scrubbing these paints can take before they smudge or run.

The end result is that the lighter, more diluted colours run easily but you have to fully dip the solid dark colours in water and scrub them hard with a wet cloth before the paints run. I think I should have also left the paints to dry for a few hours before fixing them in this test. After a long talk with fashion textiles tutor, I deem these fabric paints in their undiluted forms to be water durable and resistant enough to withstand daily use. I will issue a note with each pair explaining the extent of their durability in order to inform the customers and avoid complaints.

Martin Margiela.

The fashion designer Martin Margiela created a line of shoe which was essentially taking a standard trainer and coating it in emulsion paint. Although my plan is to make much more detailed shoe designs, the fundamentals are the same and the mark up on price he was able to make is admirable.

Inspiration: Jordan Buckley.

Jordan Buckley, the guitarist from Everytime I Die, is also an amazing illustrator and the original inspiration for me to start drawing on shoes. He has also moved onto his own clothing line JBWW where he sells t-shirts, hoodies and shorts with his designs as well as prints and originals of his artwork.

  

http://www.jordanbuckleymadethis.com/

Original shoes.

Here are the designs I made in the summer of 2010. It was originally just to try out hand drawing on 3d objects. They were only done with sharpie pens followed by a fixative spray I bought from schuh. When they got a good reaction off friends I thought about pursuing it further.