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From Sole to Style: The Founder of ShoeBaker ft. Nicholas Reynolds | Ep. 6
21 Plays1 year ago
Welcome to our sixth podcast episode, where we have the privilege of diving into the world of shoe design with the innovative Nicholas Reynolds.
Join us as we embark on Nicholas Reynolds' journey, from his early days as a shoe enthusiast to his influential role as the visionary behind ShoeBaker. In this episode, we'll uncover Nicholas' passion for blending fashion with function, his dedication to inspiring creativity through hands-on classes, and his pioneering work with industry giants like Adidas and Nike (DOTSwoosh).
Whether you're a sneakerhead, an aspiring designer, or simply curious about the intersection of art and engineering, this episode promises to provide valuable insights and inspiration from Nicholas Reynolds' remarkable career. So, join us as we step into the world of footwear innovation with Nicholas Reynolds.
About Nicholas Reynolds:
Nicholas Reynolds is a trailblazing shoe designer with a knack for pushing boundaries and redefining the sneaker game. With a background in engineering and a passion for creativity, Reynolds combines style and comfort to create exceptional shoe designs under the ShoeBaker brand. From collaborating with industry giants to exploring the impact of Web3 on creativity, Reynolds is at the forefront of innovation in the footwear industry. When he's not revolutionizing the sneaker world, you'll find Reynolds exploring new trails or experimenting with unconventional materials, always on the lookout for the next big idea.
To see the video version of this episode subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thezainabkhan
Website: https://thezainabkhan.com/
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/zainabkhanpodcast/
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello everyone, I'm Zainab Khan, your host, and I'm delighted to welcome you to our podcast, where we uncover the remarkable stories of innovators shaping industries.
00:00:18
Speaker
That's right, Zainab.
Nicholas Reynolds' Background and Influence
00:00:19
Speaker
Today we have the privilege of chatting with Nicholas Reynolds, the visionary creator of Shoe Baker, who's been leaving his mark on the sneaker world, collaborating with industry giants like Adidas and Nike.
00:00:31
Speaker
Seamlessly in his exceptional designs, but his impact doesn't stop there.
00:00:35
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:00:36
Speaker
Passionate about innovation, Reynolds also inspires creativity through hands-on classes in Atlanta, fostering the next generation of designers.
00:00:44
Speaker
As a thought leader, he's at the forefront of exploring the impact of VEP3 on creativity, pushing boundaries, and redefining possibilities.
00:00:53
Speaker
Follow his journey on Instagram
Creative Process and Inspiration
00:00:55
Speaker
at chubaker underscore ATL as he continues to revolutionize the sneaker game, one shoe at a time, embodying Newton's first law of motion in his daily work.
00:01:05
Speaker
Now let's welcome Reynolds.
00:01:07
Speaker
Hi.
00:01:08
Speaker
Hi.
00:01:09
Speaker
Hey, how's it going?
00:01:10
Speaker
And it was beautiful.
00:01:11
Speaker
I appreciate that.
00:01:13
Speaker
How are you?
00:01:14
Speaker
I am doing good.
00:01:15
Speaker
I am doing good.
00:01:16
Speaker
Welcome to the podcast.
00:01:18
Speaker
I appreciate you guys having me on.
00:01:19
Speaker
Yeah.
00:01:20
Speaker
Like, and I appreciate you reaching out.
00:01:21
Speaker
This is, it's always nice when people find interest in the journey.
00:01:26
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:01:26
Speaker
It's incredible to see how you're shaping the future of sneaker design.
00:01:30
Speaker
Your journey is truly inspiring.
00:01:32
Speaker
Now, can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new pair of shoes?
00:01:37
Speaker
Yeah, so I get that question a lot, actually.
00:01:41
Speaker
Mainly it comes in the form of like, hey, how do you come up with your ideas?
00:01:46
Speaker
What inspires you?
00:01:47
Speaker
And I never really have a solid answer just because inspiration comes from everywhere.
00:01:51
Speaker
It comes from just the walk of life.
00:01:54
Speaker
It could be as simple as a hike and I see a tree with veins going around it or a city coming around the hole.
00:02:04
Speaker
And so as far as the process,
00:02:08
Speaker
There are times where I'll take a blank shoe and I'll literally just take it off the box, put it on top of the box and just let it, I've let shoes sit on top of a box for like weeks at a time before, especially like if it's a big project.
00:02:22
Speaker
And what I like to do is I believe in like the, in the production of the subconscious mind where like, even like if you have an issue or a problem or an answer that you need, you ask yourself that question, you fall asleep and you wake up with the answer.
00:02:34
Speaker
It never fails.
00:02:35
Speaker
And so that same thing happens when it comes to creating like a one of one or something that's like really out of the box.
00:02:41
Speaker
It's just allowing my mind to process it and develop it before I even touch the shoe.
00:02:45
Speaker
And then I also have like this like Bob Ross mentality where like a lot of the shoes that like, especially that went viral, they started as mistakes.
00:02:56
Speaker
Like it would be a shoot like I messed up on and it's like, okay, well, I got to figure this out.
00:03:01
Speaker
And then it just, it morphs into just something different.
00:03:05
Speaker
So like it's, I mean, I know a lot of artists that they start their process with a mock-up and I do that as well, but it's really hard to stick with a mock-up, especially when you use the type of materials that I use.
00:03:16
Speaker
Cause once you apply it, it's permanent.
00:03:19
Speaker
And so the Bob Ross kicks in, it's just like, Hey, let's turn this mistake into a bird.
00:03:26
Speaker
So one error turns into creativity.
00:03:28
Speaker
Yeah.
00:03:29
Speaker
And just allowing myself to just explore that, you know, just keeping that childlike wonder and curiosity of what this will, what will happen if I did this or how can I make this shoe look like lava or make this shoe look like it's frozen.
00:03:42
Speaker
And I just begin to toy with different materials.
00:03:44
Speaker
And I think that that's really
Material Selection and Custom Design
00:03:45
Speaker
what, um,
00:03:47
Speaker
What inspires many creatives with my journey is that when I came in, a lot of people were just simply using paint.
00:03:54
Speaker
And then I came in and now I'm using glass, wood, metal.
00:03:59
Speaker
Wow.
00:04:02
Speaker
uh, paint, you know, um, I've used materials that's used for like fabric, but I, I just try trial and error.
00:04:09
Speaker
So, um, yeah, so it's, it's, it's not a cookie cutter answer.
00:04:13
Speaker
It's just more so just me.
00:04:15
Speaker
It's a journey.
00:04:16
Speaker
Every single project I work on is a journey and you just don't necessarily know what that end result is until you get there.
00:04:22
Speaker
Awesome.
00:04:23
Speaker
Awesome.
00:04:24
Speaker
How do you balance the elements of fashion and function in your shoe designs?
00:04:27
Speaker
Uh, it comes down to materials.
00:04:30
Speaker
So, um,
00:04:34
Speaker
As long as it is like malleable.
00:04:36
Speaker
So like I got there, there are certain areas of the shoe that I can't apply certain materials.
00:04:41
Speaker
So for example, if I wanted to, this is a shoe made to look like it's frozen.
00:04:47
Speaker
It's not completely done, but in this shoe, I've used sand, glitter, paint, resin, vinyl.
00:04:58
Speaker
But like, as far as like the resin goes, like,
00:05:01
Speaker
I wouldn't apply that to areas where the toe would bend.
00:05:08
Speaker
It just, you know, like it, it depends on if, if the person wants a shoe that they can wear, then I'm very careful with that.
00:05:14
Speaker
Now, if they want a shoe that they want to display, then I'll just go crazy and I'll make it look crazy.
00:05:18
Speaker
You know, I'm not really worried about the exact placement of it, but as long as it's, if it's malleable and it bends after it cures, then it's a perfect additive to a shoe.
00:05:28
Speaker
Awesome.
00:05:28
Speaker
So how long it takes for one shoe to get ready the final product from the beginning when you start till the final?
00:05:37
Speaker
So I ask clients for six to eight weeks, just because, especially if it's a one of one, simply because they're not necessarily paying me to create a shoe, they're paying me to think creatively.
00:05:50
Speaker
Exactly.
00:05:51
Speaker
People don't necessarily understand that.
00:05:53
Speaker
They just, hey, I want this shoe.
00:05:54
Speaker
I want this idea.
00:05:56
Speaker
And I've turned down a lot of clients.
00:05:58
Speaker
I think I've really started to grow as a creator when I learned that I can fire clients.
00:06:02
Speaker
They're not under my process.
00:06:05
Speaker
I don't have to bend to theirs.
00:06:07
Speaker
There are shoes that I can create within four hours, but then there are also shoes that will be
00:06:13
Speaker
you know, two weeks to like, like consecutively to like, to work out, you know, work through because the material that I use will take 24 hours to cure.
00:06:21
Speaker
So like I'll apply it and then there's really nothing I can do unless I have certain machines and stuff like that.
00:06:27
Speaker
And in that case, that's when they can speed up the process.
00:06:30
Speaker
Awesome.
00:06:31
Speaker
So what inspired you to start offering hands-on shoe making classes in Atlanta area?
00:06:37
Speaker
So I've always had
Teaching and Inspiring Future Generations
00:06:38
Speaker
a passion for youth.
00:06:39
Speaker
Before I was making shoes, I was actually like a youth pastor for about 10 years.
00:06:45
Speaker
And so how I got into shoes is I just used it as a way to connect with my students.
00:06:49
Speaker
And for me, it was never really about shoes.
00:06:53
Speaker
And I think that's what kind of just separates me within the niche of customizing shoes is that like, I love shoes, I have shoes, but I'm more so in love with the process of creating.
00:07:03
Speaker
And when it came to like working with students, like I believe like the brain doesn't fully develop until the age of 25.
00:07:09
Speaker
And so between zero and 25, and I think it stops growing.
00:07:14
Speaker
at the age of five or six.
00:07:17
Speaker
And around that time, like there's synapse pruning.
00:07:20
Speaker
So which means that like, if you don't use it, like you lose it.
00:07:23
Speaker
And so like, I'm really fond of like working with youth and young adults.
00:07:28
Speaker
And just recently actually, I started working in pre-K.
00:07:32
Speaker
And so like, and I'm loving that too, because that brain is very malleable, right?
00:07:36
Speaker
Just like the materials that I use.
00:07:38
Speaker
So like, it's just my love for, you know,
00:07:44
Speaker
Teaching, it stems from the, I think the best way to say it, if there were no significance in doing it, I wouldn't do it.
00:07:57
Speaker
And I think that aligns with what I said previously, as far as like, it's not necessarily about shoes, but it's about the next generation and working with them.
00:08:06
Speaker
Because if I could teach them now that, hey, what you're wearing on your feet is someone else's dream.
00:08:13
Speaker
Like that's someone else's dream, you know?
00:08:16
Speaker
And like, and you're wearing it, you're wearing it proudly and you're paying top dollar for it.
00:08:20
Speaker
What if you made your own?
00:08:21
Speaker
You know, what would it look like?
00:08:24
Speaker
I believe in a couple of weeks, I head out to Connecticut in, it's the first week of April.
00:08:31
Speaker
I worked with this group last year there out in Connecticut.
00:08:34
Speaker
It's like a James Lindsay project.
00:08:36
Speaker
It's called the James Lindsay project.
00:08:38
Speaker
And so I'm going back out there in April.
00:08:40
Speaker
And what we did last year and it's carrying over to this year is the question that I asked the students and they were about middle school, high school age is what would it look like for somebody to walk a mile in your shoes?
00:08:52
Speaker
Right.
00:08:52
Speaker
It's an issue.
00:08:53
Speaker
And then we just have them think about like, what are the elements that you love?
00:08:56
Speaker
Right?
00:08:56
Speaker
Like if you think back to childhood or you think back to, as of right now, what do you love?
00:09:01
Speaker
If you put it on your shoe and people see what's on your feet, they get a piece of you.
00:09:06
Speaker
Exactly.
00:09:07
Speaker
Just step outside of the boundaries of the normal and really explore the what if of life, especially at that age.
00:09:13
Speaker
It's really hard to do that with adults, but it is possible.
00:09:17
Speaker
It is very possible.
00:09:18
Speaker
It's easier with youth.
00:09:22
Speaker
but just getting them to think beyond
00:09:25
Speaker
Just consumerism, really.
00:09:26
Speaker
It's breaking down all of that.
00:09:28
Speaker
And I think that I'm kind of like a, at least I like to think of myself as almost like a villain in the sneaker industry.
00:09:35
Speaker
The shoes that people covet and I destroy them.
00:09:38
Speaker
At least some people say I destroy them.
00:09:39
Speaker
Other people say I destroy work.
00:09:41
Speaker
You come up with a better version of what it already is.
00:09:45
Speaker
Right, and that's my truth, right?
00:09:46
Speaker
Because there's some people, they look at it and they say, man, you ruined the shoe.
00:09:49
Speaker
Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but it was never meant for you.
00:09:52
Speaker
Would be my response.
00:09:53
Speaker
You know, like, I didn't make it for
Collaborations and Industry Impact
00:09:55
Speaker
you.
00:09:56
Speaker
Some people are comfortable wearing the same thing that everyone else has.
00:10:03
Speaker
I consider myself a one of one.
00:10:05
Speaker
I carry myself that way.
00:10:07
Speaker
And so just getting more people to think that way and just using shoes as the canvas.
00:10:13
Speaker
A shoe is nothing more than a canvas to me.
00:10:15
Speaker
Very true.
00:10:16
Speaker
So how did you approach giants like Nike or Adidas?
00:10:20
Speaker
Did they approach you or you ended up approaching them?
00:10:24
Speaker
How was the connection like?
00:10:26
Speaker
The first company I worked with was Adidas and they approached me.
00:10:30
Speaker
That was through like a Instagram DM.
00:10:33
Speaker
And it started off as like motion where they wanted, like they picked artists from different like major cities and I represented Atlanta and they wanted me to design the Adidas form.
00:10:45
Speaker
And so I worked with them and like just working through the contract and stuff like that, that they approached me.
00:10:50
Speaker
And then same thing with Nike.
00:10:52
Speaker
That was an opportunity that came about with working with a local sneaker store here in actually in Atlanta and here in Lawrenceville called Soulplay.
00:11:03
Speaker
And I was working with them, like every time they had a drop, they'll give me a pair of shoes customized just to like really just stand out.
00:11:09
Speaker
And then they're the ones that presented me with the opportunity to actually like work with Datsush, which would be Datsush.
00:11:17
Speaker
And so that's as far as I've worked with Nike on that end.
00:11:20
Speaker
Nike is a very hard company to like really get into.
00:11:23
Speaker
And so I took it and it was a great experience.
00:11:26
Speaker
Wow.
00:11:27
Speaker
So what role do you see yourself playing in changing the landscape of the sneaker industry?
00:11:34
Speaker
Uh, I would say, um, Hmm.
00:11:42
Speaker
Constantly disrupting the norm,
Role as a Disruptor and Educator
00:11:45
Speaker
right?
00:11:45
Speaker
Like I know that I did something right when half the people love it and half the people hate it.
00:11:49
Speaker
Uh, when I make a post and everybody loves it, it's not good enough.
00:11:52
Speaker
And so like, I try to like keep pushing those boundaries.
00:11:56
Speaker
Um, recently, uh, within the last few months, I took a, uh,
00:12:02
Speaker
Nike Off-White.
00:12:02
Speaker
It was a university blue Off-White.
00:12:05
Speaker
And I knew that if I touched this shoe, people are going to eat me up in the comments.
00:12:09
Speaker
And they did.
00:12:09
Speaker
They were people who got it, but then there were people who didn't.
00:12:14
Speaker
And what I did is I listened to a few interviews from Virgil Abloh.
00:12:19
Speaker
And Virgil Abloh, I did essentially what he wanted.
00:12:25
Speaker
And really, the point that I was making was that you all love the product, but you don't even know the creators.
00:12:32
Speaker
Right.
00:12:33
Speaker
You know, like you're you're coveting what's on like you're coveting a shoe, not even knowing the intent behind the shoe.
00:12:38
Speaker
And he said in an interview where he said, for those who can't afford it, it's for them.
00:12:42
Speaker
Right.
00:12:43
Speaker
Because it's an expensive shoe.
00:12:44
Speaker
He said, right.
00:12:47
Speaker
For those who can't afford it, I said, I'm making this so that it inspires you to make your own.
00:12:53
Speaker
Right.
00:12:53
Speaker
Do something to it.
00:12:54
Speaker
And so I literally took that voiceover and I added to the video that I was doing, making the shoe.
00:12:59
Speaker
And people were just like, that's why I knew I had something, right?
00:13:04
Speaker
Like it was just like, okay, good.
00:13:06
Speaker
And the thing about when I get a lot of people who hate my work, it used to bother me a lot.
00:13:12
Speaker
And sometimes it still does.
00:13:13
Speaker
It depends on the day.
00:13:15
Speaker
But like,
00:13:16
Speaker
Then I caught on to the fact that the more people hate in the comments, the further the reach of the post.
00:13:22
Speaker
And so I called them my private supporters or my secret supporters is what I call them.
00:13:25
Speaker
Right.
00:13:26
Speaker
No publicity is bad publicity.
00:13:29
Speaker
Especially when X-Gram was like really paying for reels.
00:13:34
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:35
Speaker
My employees and they used to hate it.
00:13:38
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:39
Speaker
they would just hate on hate on me because it was just like hey the more you pose and i it got to a point where i would break it down to him because like i'm tired of responding so like at this point right any of you um hey every time you post you're like making me do better and then they will stop commenting exactly yeah are you working on any signature design for some celebrities or any sports person
00:14:02
Speaker
Not at the moment.
00:14:03
Speaker
Currently, I'm focusing on a teaching career.
00:14:06
Speaker
So I actually closed my career because I really want to get into the public schools of Atlanta and just really start.
00:14:14
Speaker
I want to become an art teacher, honestly.
00:14:16
Speaker
That was my retirement plan until someone said, you need to do that right now.
00:14:22
Speaker
These kids need you right now.
00:14:26
Speaker
I was recently approached with the opportunity to make cleats.
00:14:30
Speaker
It was three pair of cleats for the Atlanta Braves pitcher that like fell through at the last minute.
00:14:37
Speaker
So I actually would have been working on that right now.
00:14:40
Speaker
I would have had to deliver it by the 28th.
00:14:41
Speaker
But yeah, at this moment, no, nothing major is on my plate other than the current orders that I'm working through.
00:14:49
Speaker
Speaking of teaching, could you share with us a memorable story of how your teaching have impacted someone's life?
00:15:00
Speaker
The thing about teaching is that there's no instant gratification, really, especially when working with kids.
00:15:08
Speaker
You have to be okay with that.
00:15:10
Speaker
I've been working with youth for going on 12 years.
00:15:15
Speaker
And it's just now recently I'm getting them coming back and saying, hey, when you said this, like that really helped, you know, when you did this or I'll hear it from the parents.
00:15:26
Speaker
And those are like the it's those are the refreshing moments when you hear that in the in the moment.
00:15:34
Speaker
You don't necessarily know whether or not the seed that you're sowing will germinate.
00:15:41
Speaker
At least once or twice a week, I'll get a DM from someone just saying how my page inspired them to create again.
00:15:49
Speaker
And in those moments, they mean the most to me.
00:15:51
Speaker
And those are the moments that happen behind the scenes.
00:15:54
Speaker
And I screenshot them for myself just because I need that reminder that, hey, what you're doing right now, it does matter.
00:16:01
Speaker
So I don't have necessarily a specific story.
00:16:03
Speaker
Actually, I do.
00:16:07
Speaker
um i went i'm from a it was a small town uh at least it would be considered small town because compared to atlanta uh called kalamazoo michigan and 2022 um i really do i go home um but i went back home i stayed like at a friend's house for like three days like it was like a middle school buddy and um just hanging out and on the night that i was leaving to come back
00:16:33
Speaker
He took me to like this.
00:16:35
Speaker
It was like a boutique.
00:16:35
Speaker
He was like, hey, let's stop at his boutique.
00:16:37
Speaker
You know, they just opened up.
00:16:40
Speaker
Let's go over.
00:16:40
Speaker
So we go over and I walk in and this kid is standing out of door.
00:16:44
Speaker
Yeah, it had to be like maybe I had to be either like late teens or early 20s.
00:16:51
Speaker
And he's just staring at me.
00:16:53
Speaker
And I'm just going about my business.
00:16:55
Speaker
This is my hometown.
00:16:56
Speaker
And so I go around, introduce myself to people, talk.
00:17:00
Speaker
And so the kid, he walks up to me.
00:17:02
Speaker
He has his phone.
00:17:02
Speaker
He said, hey, is this you?
00:17:03
Speaker
I was like, yeah.
00:17:04
Speaker
I was like, that's me.
00:17:05
Speaker
He was like, he said, what are you doing?
00:17:06
Speaker
He said, I've been following you.
00:17:07
Speaker
He said, man, you're such an inspiration.
00:17:09
Speaker
He's just showering me with compliments.
00:17:12
Speaker
Very refreshing.
00:17:13
Speaker
And he was like, what are you doing here?
00:17:14
Speaker
And I was like, I said, this is my hometown.
00:17:16
Speaker
I was like, this is where I'm from.
00:17:17
Speaker
I went to the high school right over here.
00:17:19
Speaker
And he was just so blown away by the fact that somebody who he, I'm just gonna say that he deemed as a hero, as far as creativity, he had no idea the origin story.
00:17:32
Speaker
And I can only imagine what was running through his mind when he found out that we were from the same place.
00:17:38
Speaker
Awesome.
00:17:40
Speaker
And so those moments are very meaningful for me.
00:17:44
Speaker
Definitely.
00:17:44
Speaker
Definitely.
00:17:46
Speaker
With your experience working with big names like Adidas and Nike, what have been some key lessons you've learned?
00:17:55
Speaker
Everything is negotiable.
00:17:58
Speaker
Never take the first offer.
00:18:00
Speaker
What they're offering you, there's more behind that.
00:18:02
Speaker
They have a budget and you just negotiate.
00:18:05
Speaker
I mean, obviously, like, don't think too highly of yourself, but also know your worth when it comes to that.
00:18:11
Speaker
Because for you, to them, you're disposable.
00:18:16
Speaker
You know, there's more.
00:18:17
Speaker
Very true.
00:18:19
Speaker
Also, like, also asking myself, like, well, how do I become, how do I make myself
00:18:28
Speaker
where I can't be replicated.
00:18:30
Speaker
And that was my motto for a while, is that I used to joke and say, Nike can't do what I do.
00:18:36
Speaker
I can't be replicated.
00:18:37
Speaker
And then I stopped, because, man, if I actually want to work with Nike, let me stop shooting shots at them like that.
00:18:42
Speaker
But yeah, I would say everything is negotiable, knowing your worth, and not being afraid to turn down an opportunity.
00:18:52
Speaker
There was one time I was
Technology's Influence on Creativity
00:18:53
Speaker
approached by Nesquik, and they wanted me to...
00:18:57
Speaker
make content for them.
00:18:59
Speaker
And before they approached me, I saw other creators working with Nesquik.
00:19:03
Speaker
So I didn't know, you know, what was going on.
00:19:05
Speaker
They approached me like, hey, we want you to make content.
00:19:10
Speaker
We'll send you like, it was like a year supply of Nesquik or something like that.
00:19:13
Speaker
And it was like,
00:19:14
Speaker
Okay.
00:19:15
Speaker
So I responded, hey, this is how much I charge for X, Y, and Z. I would love to collaborate with you on a project like that.
00:19:22
Speaker
And they didn't want to pay.
00:19:24
Speaker
So I'm like, okay, I'm 33 years old.
00:19:26
Speaker
I'm not working for Nesquik.
00:19:28
Speaker
I'm not working for Chocolate Milk.
00:19:29
Speaker
I'm not going to... Exactly.
00:19:33
Speaker
In that moment and not being so excited by the brand name that's offering me something.
00:19:39
Speaker
My name is a brand and they came to me.
00:19:41
Speaker
I didn't come to go to them.
00:19:44
Speaker
Right.
00:19:45
Speaker
How do you envision Web3 impacting the future of shoe design and innovation?
00:19:52
Speaker
I think it really opens up the market of creativity because like number one, as the generation comes up, the generation that is coming up, like they are very reliant on technology and also tech savvy.
00:20:06
Speaker
And just the, just where AI is at right now.
00:20:09
Speaker
I mean, you can just type in a phrase and AI will create a picture.
00:20:12
Speaker
Like I've used that to my advantage as well.
00:20:14
Speaker
I think that it'll impact that because it would, it would, um,
00:20:19
Speaker
it will increase the speed of production of ideas, but also negative because not all ideas are fully original, right?
00:20:28
Speaker
Exactly.
00:20:29
Speaker
It's best to use it as a form of inspiration and then growing off of that inspiration.
00:20:34
Speaker
And so it's, I'm interested to see how it does it, but when I look at how technology has impacted humanity, it,
00:20:44
Speaker
There have been a lot of benefits, but it has also stunted us in other areas.
00:20:49
Speaker
So there's always a give.
00:20:51
Speaker
It's going to be a benefit, but I think that we also have to be aware that it's also going to kill some things that we as humans can only produce.
00:21:03
Speaker
Let me give you an example.
00:21:06
Speaker
There is no other being in this world that has the ability to have an idea and manifest it.
00:21:14
Speaker
Very true.
00:21:14
Speaker
The human element is very, very important in every creativity.
00:21:18
Speaker
Otherwise we'll be like fully mechanized and computerized and like a machine.
00:21:23
Speaker
Right, exactly.
00:21:24
Speaker
Yeah.
00:21:24
Speaker
And so that's my concern is there is that we will actually, it will actually stunt creativity like that in the beginning.
00:21:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:21:32
Speaker
In a fashion that social media has like, it opened us up to the world.
00:21:38
Speaker
But we are more anti-social more than ever.
00:21:41
Speaker
You know, actually coming up, they don't necessarily know how to have conversations because everything is, you know, in emojis and abbreviations.
00:21:50
Speaker
And so like, there's always a fireback and we have to, a shortcut is just a quick way to come up short.
00:21:56
Speaker
Yeah.
00:21:56
Speaker
That's a paradox we have to accept.
00:21:59
Speaker
Okay.
00:21:59
Speaker
What's the most unusual request you've received for a custom shoe design and did you fulfill it?
00:22:07
Speaker
most unusual request yeah the um one that i was the one request i got was that it was around the time the little nazax made like the satan shoe and so someone said hey can you make me something like this and it's just i i just didn't want to engage anything like that so i told him no so i didn't fulfill that um trying to think of there if there's
00:22:29
Speaker
I've gotten requests.
00:22:30
Speaker
I can't think of any specifically where, and this is around a time that I was learning, like just to just fire clients that like, um,
00:22:39
Speaker
Like people have these ideas and they want you to implement it.
00:22:43
Speaker
But like they don't consider the fact that like I have more experience with the materials.
00:22:48
Speaker
And so I'll try to guide them into a different direction, you know, with the same foundational idea.
00:22:54
Speaker
And they just they won't budge like, no, this is what I want.
00:22:57
Speaker
If this is what you want and you want to wear it, I can't do that.
00:23:00
Speaker
Right.
00:23:01
Speaker
And so that's when I just started saying no a lot to people who didn't necessarily respect the process or the expertise, even though they were coming to me forward.
00:23:12
Speaker
And so I would
Maintaining Creativity and Overcoming Challenges
00:23:14
Speaker
say that's the most annoying part is just people who like they want what they want, but they really don't know what they want.
00:23:23
Speaker
Leave them what they wanted.
00:23:24
Speaker
They will complain.
00:23:27
Speaker
Your motto, stay in motion, is quite inspiring.
00:23:30
Speaker
How do you stay motivated and keep pushing boundaries in your work?
00:23:38
Speaker
I would say, how do I stay motivated?
00:23:41
Speaker
Because there are a few things in there.
00:23:52
Speaker
I think it is unrealistic to think that every single day you'll be motivated.
00:23:56
Speaker
there are gonna be days where you just simply don't feel like doing it.
00:23:59
Speaker
And I think having that understanding that, you know, today is one of those days where like, I don't see myself the way that other people see me, you know, and being realistic about that and understanding I'm human.
00:24:09
Speaker
And that like, it's the same fallacy of people thinking that every day they should be happy when happiness is a true.
00:24:19
Speaker
You know, the happiness is a feeling.
00:24:22
Speaker
And then as far as the pushing boundaries,
00:24:26
Speaker
I am a huge advocate of childlike wonder.
00:24:33
Speaker
I'm sure all three of us can relate to this next comment.
00:24:38
Speaker
When you were a child, anything was possible.
00:24:42
Speaker
I remember there was one point where I'm pretty sure it was a dream.
00:24:47
Speaker
It had to be a dream.
00:24:48
Speaker
As a kid, I dreamt that I could breathe underwater.
00:24:52
Speaker
And I couldn't differentiate the difference between reality and what wasn't, and reality and false reality.
00:25:00
Speaker
And so I, for some reason thought I can breathe underwater until one day I tried and almost drowned.
00:25:07
Speaker
That's the power of the problem.
00:25:14
Speaker
As a kid, we don't have limitations on our mind.
00:25:17
Speaker
We don't put limitations.
00:25:18
Speaker
But as we grow up, we start to realize the harsh realities of life.
00:25:24
Speaker
And that's where we start to put limitation.
00:25:26
Speaker
And then we are limited to certain things.
00:25:31
Speaker
Yeah.
00:25:31
Speaker
And you have to be careful about like what you allow to limit yourself because for example, like I said, like what I tell the students is you're wearing someone else's dream.
00:25:39
Speaker
Exactly.
00:25:40
Speaker
Yeah.
00:25:41
Speaker
At one point, um, everyone was wearing Chuck Taylors, you know, it was the athletic shoe, but now, you know, here we are with Nike.
00:25:49
Speaker
So at some point, um, like someone had an idea and they followed through with it.
00:25:57
Speaker
Um, so yeah.
00:25:58
Speaker
And then the thing is that like,
00:26:00
Speaker
The child mind is very malleable.
00:26:04
Speaker
The journey of figuring out how do we navigate as adults?
00:26:07
Speaker
How do we navigate back to the place where like we're like where we're paving roads in our mind?
00:26:14
Speaker
Because that's what happens is that like between zero and five, like you're like children are in a dreamlike state.
00:26:19
Speaker
And so anything you expose a adolescent to
00:26:23
Speaker
their brain is creating like almost like these like train stations.
00:26:27
Speaker
And then the more you like expose them to it, more tracks are laid.
00:26:31
Speaker
But by the age of five, that's when the snaps pruning happens.
00:26:35
Speaker
And then that train station closes and it shuts down.
00:26:38
Speaker
And so our question, like as an adult, is it possible to reverse that?
00:26:44
Speaker
And the truth is, it is.
00:26:46
Speaker
It's very possible.
00:26:47
Speaker
And I've done it myself where like, how do I awaken that curiosity or that wonder in my brain?
00:26:55
Speaker
How do I instill a new habit?
00:26:58
Speaker
And so with the child mind being malleable, it's much easier.
00:27:02
Speaker
But as an adult, it takes more time.
00:27:03
Speaker
And the way you do that is that you have to intentionally stay conscious and make conscious decisions to do the opposite of what you would normally do.
00:27:14
Speaker
And so what that looks like is I have two watches.
00:27:16
Speaker
I have a black watch and a white watch.
00:27:18
Speaker
Right now I don't have any one.
00:27:20
Speaker
And they're Invicta, so they're heavy.
00:27:24
Speaker
I wear my black watch on my left wrist.
00:27:28
Speaker
I wear the white watch on my right wrist.
00:27:31
Speaker
And I stagger the days.
00:27:33
Speaker
And so what I've noticed by doing that is that I'm slower at telling time with my right hand.
00:27:40
Speaker
It's very weird.
00:27:40
Speaker
It doesn't make sense because it's the same mind.
00:27:43
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:45
Speaker
We go into almost autopilot whenever you drive somewhere that you go every single day.
00:27:52
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:53
Speaker
Consciously make the decision, I'm going to go left instead of right.
00:27:56
Speaker
What you're doing, you're staying conscious and you're awake to the fact that like, hey, there's more.
00:28:02
Speaker
Two plus two isn't the only way to make four.
00:28:05
Speaker
Exactly.
00:28:06
Speaker
So we rely more on muscle memory at times.
00:28:10
Speaker
Yeah, we do.
00:28:11
Speaker
We do.
00:28:12
Speaker
Which is good because that's one of the benefits of being human.
00:28:15
Speaker
But we can easily become lazy in our approach to life if life is all about comfort.
00:28:22
Speaker
I think that growth happens at a point of discomfort.
00:28:25
Speaker
Very true.
00:28:26
Speaker
I absolutely agree to that.
00:28:28
Speaker
Fruit grows on the weakest part of the tree.
00:28:31
Speaker
Yeah.
00:28:32
Speaker
Okay.
00:28:33
Speaker
Before we end up this conversation, I really don't want to.
00:28:37
Speaker
I mean, your words are really, really wise and amazing.
00:28:41
Speaker
So what advice would you give to aspiring shoe designers who are looking to break into the industry?
00:28:46
Speaker
Start.
00:28:49
Speaker
Yeah, simply start.
00:28:51
Speaker
You know, and I mean, you reach out to people who inspire you.
00:28:55
Speaker
I have people who reach out to me.
00:28:56
Speaker
They ask me questions.
00:28:56
Speaker
I used to try to answer every question.
00:28:58
Speaker
Now I don't.
00:28:59
Speaker
The reason I don't answer every question is because some of the questions are shortcuts.
00:29:04
Speaker
Like, hey, how did you do that?
00:29:05
Speaker
How did you do that?
00:29:06
Speaker
when I'm posting videos showing it, how I got to where I'm at is that I just, I wasn't afraid to fail.
00:29:13
Speaker
I knew that like, be like on the other side of failure was my lesson.
00:29:18
Speaker
And so like, I think a lot of people, especially when it comes to shoes or customizing, they're afraid to start because like Air Force One costs $150.
00:29:24
Speaker
But don't start on, right?
00:29:28
Speaker
I challenge you to go to Walmart and buy a $20 shoe and make it look
00:29:31
Speaker
something that other people want.
00:29:32
Speaker
If you do that, that honestly is more powerful than customizing an Air Force One.
00:29:37
Speaker
Because if I can go buy a $20 shoe from Walmart and then make it, right?
00:29:42
Speaker
Now I can sell it at a price for, let's say, I can triple the price at 60, which is a good, you know, that's a good business model, right?
00:29:48
Speaker
Triple whatever you pay.
00:29:51
Speaker
And now you have something different, right?
00:29:53
Speaker
Like even, not even that, you don't have to spend money.
00:29:57
Speaker
Get an old pair of shoes.
00:29:58
Speaker
Actually, I don't know.
00:30:01
Speaker
I have no idea where it's at.
00:30:03
Speaker
But I had a pair of Chuck Taylors that was gifted to me.
00:30:07
Speaker
It was actually gifted to me in December.
00:30:09
Speaker
I destroyed the Chuck Taylors, right?
00:30:12
Speaker
They were a white pair.
00:30:14
Speaker
So what I did is that I, like once they got too dirty and I washed them and like they just looked like beat up, I dipped them in dye.
00:30:23
Speaker
I dyed them red and then I made them look like Flash.
00:30:26
Speaker
So like take them into shoes and make them into something new.
00:30:29
Speaker
I think that that is very powerful.
00:30:31
Speaker
Like you don't have to buy a new pair of shoes.
00:30:35
Speaker
When I teach classes, I tell you to buy a new pair of shoes just because like it's, you want the clean pair, you know, that way you can learn.
00:30:41
Speaker
It's a blank canvas.
00:30:42
Speaker
But if you're trying to learn from home, don't go buy a pair of shoes.
00:30:46
Speaker
Buy the paint, get the materials you need and use an old pair of shoes and then explore on that because you won't be, um,
00:30:54
Speaker
you won't hesitate to make a decision on something that you don't necessarily value, that you don't value anymore.
00:31:01
Speaker
Right?
00:31:01
Speaker
Like people, people hesitate because they're afraid to make a mistake.
00:31:04
Speaker
But if you're not afraid, that's when you can really learn.
00:31:07
Speaker
Right?
00:31:07
Speaker
And even if you mess up, what I learned with, I learned what that does.
00:31:11
Speaker
Right?
00:31:11
Speaker
A lot of the techniques that I use now came from me messing up and learning, man, well, that looks like fire.
00:31:18
Speaker
So next time I do a fire shoe, I'm going to use this technique that I just learned off of destroying this pair of shoes, you know?
00:31:25
Speaker
But number one, start.
00:31:27
Speaker
Number two, don't be afraid to fail.
00:31:29
Speaker
Number three.
00:31:33
Speaker
Finally, how do you navigate the misconception that careers in artistic fields like shoe design may not be as financially viable as more traditional pots?
00:31:42
Speaker
And what advice would you give to aspiring creatives facing similar skepticism from their parents or peers?
00:31:49
Speaker
When I was a kid, a lot of adults, and this is in the 90s,
00:31:53
Speaker
A lot of folks told me that there was no money in art.
00:31:56
Speaker
Well, I proved that wrong.
00:32:00
Speaker
There was a lot of money in art.
00:32:01
Speaker
Now, it is not as reliable as other fields as far as becoming a doctor or even just a nine to five.
00:32:11
Speaker
It's not as reliable because you constantly have to work it.
00:32:13
Speaker
There is no boss telling you to get up and get this done.
00:32:17
Speaker
You have to make your own schedules.
00:32:19
Speaker
You have to market yourself.
00:32:20
Speaker
So like if you're going into it thinking that it's going to be just like having a nine to five, it is not.
00:32:24
Speaker
You're actually going to work more.
00:32:26
Speaker
And so like you just have to like face that reality.
00:32:31
Speaker
And also I once heard that sharing a creative idea is like mentally undressing in front of someone.
00:32:41
Speaker
And so like you're in a very vulnerable state.
00:32:44
Speaker
Yeah.
00:32:45
Speaker
Yeah.
00:32:45
Speaker
And during the early stages, it used to really get to me when people like hated on my shoes and I used to go back at them in a comment and stuff like that.
00:32:53
Speaker
But looking back, it's because I was very sensitive to the fact that, hey, you're not you're rejecting what I just put out there.
00:33:00
Speaker
You need tough skin.
00:33:01
Speaker
And honestly, tough skin sometimes tough skin comes from working that, you know, it's callous.
00:33:07
Speaker
And so there's going to be you're not always going to get it right.
00:33:11
Speaker
and go into it knowing that you're not gonna get it right.
00:33:13
Speaker
Go into it knowing that not everyone's going to like it.
00:33:15
Speaker
And that's because understand that when people hate on you or hate what you do, don't take it personal because nine times out of 10, that person's going through something and they're looking for someone to take it out on.
00:33:30
Speaker
And you just happen
Career Misconceptions and Future Prospects
00:33:31
Speaker
to be the post that popped up when they opened the phone.
00:33:33
Speaker
Awesome, very well said.
00:33:36
Speaker
If you could collaborate with any artist or designer living or dead on a shoe collection, who would it be and why?
00:33:42
Speaker
Oh, that's a great question.
00:33:45
Speaker
Man.
00:33:47
Speaker
What you said living or dead?
00:33:49
Speaker
Yeah.
00:33:50
Speaker
Living or dead.
00:33:53
Speaker
That would be like, imagine if Da Vinci made a shoe.
00:33:58
Speaker
That would be awesome.
00:34:01
Speaker
I would love to work on a shoe with Da Vinci.
00:34:03
Speaker
I'm trying to think of who else.
00:34:05
Speaker
as far as creators, Bob Ross would be sweet.
00:34:09
Speaker
Just as far as his paint technique and just like how, I want to see how he would work a non-traditional canvas.
00:34:17
Speaker
Man, as far as like, I can't necessarily think of anyone else that like, it's just like, like that I definitely like, I have to work with those people.
00:34:29
Speaker
But I'm always open to work with people just because I'm more so just in my own lane.
00:34:34
Speaker
And so I think that that's almost like it's a pro, but then it's a con because like I'm not fully aware of what's going on with other.
00:34:40
Speaker
I think that the artists that you're even asking about, I think they're the same way.
00:34:43
Speaker
They're focused on like what they're doing.
00:34:45
Speaker
And so I'm excited for the collaborations that will come in the future because like it's, it's, it's, oh, I'm excited about the journey.
00:34:53
Speaker
It's the journey.
00:34:55
Speaker
Like that, like I can't even really think about like, you know, well, who would I make a shoot with and what would it look like?
00:35:00
Speaker
No, it's just like, who do I wanna meet?
00:35:02
Speaker
Because I wanna learn how they think.
00:35:05
Speaker
Like that's like Da Vinci.
00:35:07
Speaker
I wanna learn how he thinks.
00:35:08
Speaker
Like, you know, like what would this guy do who was in helicopters back in like, you know, however long ago that was, right?
00:35:18
Speaker
To meet Da Vinci would be sick.
00:35:21
Speaker
Awesome.
00:35:22
Speaker
What's the wildest shoe concept you have ever dreamed up, but haven't had the chance to bring it to life yet?
00:35:40
Speaker
I really don't know.
00:35:41
Speaker
Cause I'm kind of a person where it's like, if I have an idea, I start on it immediately.
00:35:47
Speaker
So there isn't necessarily one where like, I haven't tried.
00:35:53
Speaker
or done yet.
00:35:54
Speaker
Yeah, like I'm a doer.
00:36:00
Speaker
Yeah, like on the wall right now, I have like a lava shoe concept that I started.
00:36:05
Speaker
It's not necessarily where I want it to be.
00:36:08
Speaker
But yeah, like I think the, one moment.
00:36:15
Speaker
So these are all like, this is like a Candyman concept where like,
00:36:19
Speaker
you know, just a hook and then add in that.
00:36:21
Speaker
Wow.
00:36:22
Speaker
This is amazing.
00:36:23
Speaker
Very dangerous though.
00:36:24
Speaker
Like don't take your shoes off.
00:36:26
Speaker
You usually use the, uh, your other foot to push on the heel.
00:36:30
Speaker
Oh yeah.
00:36:31
Speaker
Right.
00:36:31
Speaker
Do that.
00:36:32
Speaker
That would be very painful.
00:36:33
Speaker
Yeah.
00:36:34
Speaker
It hurts.
00:36:35
Speaker
Um, this is one where just like adding a snake to it.
00:36:38
Speaker
Awesome.
00:36:39
Speaker
Beautiful.
00:36:41
Speaker
Uh, this is one that I've worked on recently where, um,
00:36:45
Speaker
The other like that.
00:36:47
Speaker
And so pretty much I just amplified that, had a tongue wrapping around coming off.
00:36:51
Speaker
So it did resemble venom.
00:36:54
Speaker
And then this is another one where it was an experiment.
00:36:58
Speaker
So this is an old Air Force One.
00:37:01
Speaker
that I messed up on.
00:37:03
Speaker
And then recently, within the last year, I just went back to it.
00:37:07
Speaker
And so that's when I added this bat symbol.
00:37:10
Speaker
So amazing.
00:37:11
Speaker
The bat symbol was, it's made out of resin.
00:37:14
Speaker
I found it in a shoe and it's yellow.
00:37:16
Speaker
And so what I did actually, this was like, I just had this idea.
00:37:19
Speaker
So I'm just a dude.
00:37:22
Speaker
It's a vinyl sticker, it's high quality.
00:37:25
Speaker
I had these for probably like four years, just stacks up.
00:37:30
Speaker
I never got rid of all of them.
00:37:31
Speaker
And so I put the sticker on and I used a heat gun and I melted the sticker onto the resin.
00:37:37
Speaker
And then now it's like, like, I can't even peel that off.
00:37:40
Speaker
Like it's like, it's.
00:37:41
Speaker
They're like washable, right?
00:37:44
Speaker
Oh yeah.
00:37:44
Speaker
Yeah.
00:37:44
Speaker
This is why, yeah.
00:37:45
Speaker
If you use like a soap, water, toothbrush, scrub it down.
00:37:48
Speaker
I mean, I wouldn't throw it in the washer.
00:37:50
Speaker
Even if it wasn't customized It's like a mess Your shoe up But yeah I just made to resemble The How Batman has the spikes Yeah They are amazing Absolutely amazing Thank you So these are all like the personal pair So like Recently I'm more so into Like oh Let me sit back down
00:38:20
Speaker
I'm actually in the process of just really asking myself, what else do I want?
00:38:27
Speaker
Do I want to continue the journey of shoes?
00:38:29
Speaker
Do I want to focus on teaching students?
00:38:33
Speaker
Because I've built furniture.
00:38:35
Speaker
I've built a tree house.
00:38:37
Speaker
I'm a creator.
00:38:42
Speaker
And so if I can, like, honestly, if I could be honest, I've grown bored of working on Air Force Ones.
00:38:49
Speaker
Like I haven't like there aren't I haven't been presented with any opportunities that have like sparked or inspired me to just say I have to do that.
00:38:58
Speaker
You know, money was good.
00:39:00
Speaker
um right so that's where just within the last three months i've really been like actually i took a teaching job uh working free so which which has been crazy so that has been awesome and so that and i love that because like uh for the last for 10 years i mainly worked with middle school and high school
00:39:18
Speaker
And because of that, I wanted to learn about the behavior patterns of children.
00:39:22
Speaker
I just take my job seriously.
00:39:24
Speaker
And that piqued my interest as far as like brain development and like, you know, where like trauma, you know, like the cause and effect of that.
00:39:33
Speaker
And so
Conclusion and Farewell
00:39:34
Speaker
to actually work with four year olds every single day, learn about, you know, because with four year olds, you really want to do more process art, not product art.
00:39:42
Speaker
So the difference, like, um,
00:39:45
Speaker
With product art, it's, hey, this is what we're doing.
00:39:48
Speaker
Everyone should look just like this.
00:39:50
Speaker
But with a four-year-old, because their brain is still developing, it's, hey, we're going to make, I'm going to read a story out to you.
00:39:58
Speaker
Every day we do a rhyme.
00:39:59
Speaker
It's like a rhyme of the month.
00:40:01
Speaker
And so what I started doing is that I printed out these little sheets with a square box on them, and then we put their name on it.
00:40:08
Speaker
And so the rhyme of the month this month is bye-bye sheet.
00:40:14
Speaker
And so I read it out to them and then they'll say it back to me.
00:40:17
Speaker
We learned it.
00:40:18
Speaker
And then I say, now I want you to draw a picture of what we just talked about.
00:40:22
Speaker
And so that would be awesome.
00:40:24
Speaker
Everyone's sheet looks different.
00:40:26
Speaker
And so I'm learning more from them than they're probably learning from me because it's helping me to think like a child again.
00:40:33
Speaker
I'm really fascinated about that journey.
00:40:37
Speaker
Very nice.
00:40:38
Speaker
Before we end this podcast, where can people find your work?
00:40:42
Speaker
You can find the work at ShoeBaker.com or on my Instagram, ShoeBaker underscore ATL.
00:40:48
Speaker
When it comes to classes, you can find me at Sneaker Tabernacle on Instagram.
00:40:55
Speaker
As our enlightening conversation concludes, a heartfelt thanks to Reynolds for sharing his insights and experiences with us.
00:41:01
Speaker
Until next time, this is Zainab Khan and this is Imran signing off.
00:41:05
Speaker
Thank you so much.
00:41:06
Speaker
Thank you for having me.
00:41:07
Speaker
I really appreciate it.
00:41:08
Speaker
Thank you for joining in.
00:41:10
Speaker
Thank you.