When I was a little kid during the late 50’s to early 60’s, I practically lived in Keds and PF Flyers. Man, did I wear shoes out fast running around the streets of Brooklyn and NYC. Picture this: I guess the best way to describe my young self to you is part Bart Simpson, part Tony Hawk. Sneakers couldn’t take the punishment I dished out. Pairs lasted only a few weeks at best. They also weren’t anywhere near as comfortable as shoes today. They pretty much came in only 2 designs; regular and high top without much differentiation between brands. Gels, pumps, and hide-away wheels didn’t exist. Colors were limited to white, black (very daring at the time), sometimes red, and even more rare, green. My mother usually chose the least expensive pairs for me to wear. I do remember convincing her, after sustained effort, to let me wear a black pair or two, and even a red pair. What can I say? I was a wild child. ;)
From my teens and into my late 20’s, I was an avid basketball player. Later, I became a distance runner, and then a mountain runner. I came to really appreciate a well-made shoe. I’d search and search until I found that unique pair with the right tread pattern, heel, tip, fit, and sole elements to help me jump higher, run faster and longer, turn quick, and stop on a dime without injury. I almost exclusively wore Converse during my b-ball days. Adidas was my running-shoe-of-choice. I remember a model of super light-weight and excellently-designed shoes called Rom Roy back around 1975. It was as if they were custom made for me. Of course, the model was discontinued soon after I bought the pair. Sure, other makes and models were righteous kicks, but it was like changing off to wooden shoes after experiencing the Rom Roy. Yep, I remember and miss them to this day. That’s how special a great pair of perfect-fitting and superior performing shoes can be. It’s good to see there are others out there who feel the same. Oh yeah, they looked radical, too.
Online design templates for sneakers have been around for years, but I never played with any until September. Once involved, I could hardly tear myself away. I came up with something new and freaky every day or so. I loved it! My preference was undeniably the laced-ups. It was a no-brainer for me because I could see the pattern, plus the added design elements of colored laces and eyelets would synergistically generate remarkable eye candy. In only a couple of weeks, I came out with my own line of kicks at www.zazzle.com/steamyr.
So, what was the inspiration for SteamyR sneakers, you ask? I wanted to do something different. I wanted to create fantastic pieces of wearable art. I wanted to do something challenging, “in your face”, and “over the top”. Something alternative, for sure. Not conservative or bland. The appeal would be to the extreme and urban segments of society. Two words immediately came to mind: Extreme Sports and Hip Hop.
Extreme Sports and Hip Hop are the areas of modern culture that dare the most. It is my opinion their clothes should match lifestyles, hobbies, and tastes. The members of my focus group have explosive energy inside them. I knew the direction to take was for me to be bold and wild. That’s why I use bold, and even shocking, designs and color combinations. My kicks excite people. They make people think “awesome”. They make the wearers feel special as they express themselves. They have fun and at the same time have that flash that wows a crowd
I had no idea Sneakerplay and other sneaker communities, sites, and publications existed until a few days ago. I’m now a newbie Sneakerplay member! I may be knowledgeable about a number of things and even been a collector of rare coins, gems, stamps, and guns. I’m frequently told I’m way talented with design and color. None of that makes me an expert in the sneaker world. I realize I have a lot to learn. So, I’ll take a back seat to the veteran fans and collectors for now. What I can offer, at this time, is SteamyR.
Welcome!
S ;)
