аs Liverpооl lооk tо get bаck оn trаck аnd Evertоn welcоme new mаnаgement, аll eyes will be оn аnfield fоr tоnight’s Merseyside Derby, which is knоwn fоr its usuаl intensity. Dаrwin Nunez, whо hаs а pаir оf unique bооts mаde by аrtist Jоrdаn Dаwsоn, is hоping tо steаl the shоw.
One of the few ways a player can express themselves on the field is through boot customization. Since a brand’s signature editions are only available to the most privileged customers, a bespoke custom job is the next best alternative.
One individual who has established themselves as an expert in this industry is Jordan Dawson. Dawson has designed personalized boots for numerous sportsmen, including Declan Rice, Son Heung-Min, Marcus Rashford, Usain Bolt, and Anthony Joshua, among others. His most recent endeavor involved making a unique pair of Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly IX for Darwin Nunez, a striker for Liverpool. He started with the ‘Shadow Pack’ version and then added the personalized details. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of the procedure and the creative customizer’s work in general, we had a conversation with him.
First things first: could you give us some background on your journey to this field?
Brands like Nike, Converse, and PUMA were my initial clients when I began personalizing their footwear. At EA Sports’ FIFA 20 Launch Party, I had the opportunity to collaborate with celebrities like Kaká, Ian Wright, and Hudson-Odoi as we personalized adidas sneakers. At the occasion, I approached Declan Rice, who would later become my first client for football boots. I proposed making a pair for him, and after he got them, he posted about them on social media, and the idea took off.
How can a chance like the one Darwin Nunez is experiencing right now materialize?
Although I rely heavily on referrals these days, RareBoots4U was instrumental in bringing me this pair for Darwin Nunez. Cam and I have been discussing the possibility of collaborating for some time now. This opportunity with Darwin arose when he expressed interest in purchasing a pair, following my design for Heung-Min Son.Give us a rundown of everything that goes into making a player’s unique pair of boots…
The player and I will have a conversation to determine which boots I will be repairing, and then they will have them sent to my studio. We talk about their preferences for the design of the boots once they’ve arrived. Once we have reached an agreement, I will schedule a customization appointment. The day of customization will begin with getting the boots taped and ready to be painted. So that they can witness the transformation of their drawings, updates are sent out detailing the painting process. The artwork is protected by sealing the boots when the painting is finished. When it’s done, they get a high-quality photo to share on social media. After being re-boxed and branded, the boots are either personally delivered to the player’s house or transported to the practice field so they can be broken in before game day.
When it comes to your work, how much leeway do the athletes have for creativity? To what extent do certain sportsmen go above and beyond?
Ultimately, it’s up to the gamer. Depending on the situation, I get requests from gamers who either tell me a general idea of what they want or have an existing design in mind, or who find an example on my Instagram and want something similar. Before beginning work on the real boot, I make mockups so the players may see how their design would appear.