During the holidays of 2014, I featured a very unusual Buffalo sneaker shop in the BRO gift guide. At the time, store manager, Polo Kerber, introduced me to a world of kicks that I was not at all familiar with. Sole High is a top of the line shop for the guy or girl who looks at sneakers like most people look at cars (see original post).
Since featuring Sole High, the business has steadily been growing, attracting the attention of some of this city’s most elite sports players. That’s because, not only do they carry sneakers that resemble works of art, they also custom paint original works of art on sneakers – mostly blank Air Jordan canvases.
In order to pull off the masterful art creations, Sole High brought on artist/designer Nicholas Avery into the fold. Before taking the elite position at Sole High, Nick worked out of his home, painting custom creations on sneakers for friends, family and anyone else who wanted to sport crazy, funky, colorful footwear. After joining the Sole High team, Nick set out to take his creations to the next level. Recently he completed a pair for Buffalo Bills player Lesean McCoy.
All of Nick’s custom sneakers are heat set and I am told that they neither chip or crack. Some of the customers who order the sneaks give Nick free reign to design whatever he feels like. Others have specific requests. Either way, the job costs $300, and that doesn’t include the sneaker. But there are a lot of fanatics who are looking to sport these babies, whether they hang them on the wall or wear them around town.
At this moment, Nick is working on a custom pair for a dedicated customer who just can’t get enough of Nick’s designs. “This will be his sixth pair of sneakers,” Nick told me. “His last pair was the Willy Wonka design that he let me run with. This pair is of Animal [holding up the sneaks], from the Muppet Show – take a look at the chain that will attach to the leg. It was from a ball and chain – the guy will wear the chain around his leg, attached to the sneaker of course.”
Nick has also created three custom works for Raekwon from Wu Tang.
Some of the custom creations are so intricate and detailed, that it’s hard to imagine that they are hand painted and 100% unique. Whether you’re in the market for a pair of these bad boys or not, you must agree that these hand painted designs are off the hook.
Some people spend $300+ on a pair of heals, or a nice suit. Others like to wear their sneakers on their sleeves. For those who feel that their feet deserve some added flash, the guys at Sole High have got you covered.
If the personalized paint job is not up your alley, there are plenty of other colorful “bad ass” sneaks to ogle at Sole High. Take the time to stop in and browse the gallery of kicks – it’s a fascinating glimpse into a world that I personally find absolutely fascinating. Sole High is one of the more creative shops in the city. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Sole High LLC | @igetsolehigh | 569 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo, NY 14222 | 716-248-1345 | Facebook