faq

Custom sneakers are athletic shoes that have been subsequently personalized, artistically redesigned, or even completely rebuilt. The word "customized" means custom-tailored or individually adapted. Instead of wearing an "off-the-rack" shoe, professional artists (known as customizers) or hobbyists turn a standard production model into an absolute one-of-a-kind piece. Completely white or black classics such as the Nike Air Force 1, various Air Jordan models, or Vans usually serve as the base, as they act like a blank canvas.

There are three main techniques used to redesign a shoe, with the effort varying greatly:

• Painting: This is the most common and accessible method. Special, flexible leather paints and brushes or airbrush guns are used to paint color gradients, comic characters, patterns, or logos onto the leather. The paint is then sealed to make it waterproof and scratch-resistant.
• Material Reconstruction (Bespoke / Cut & Sew): This involves authentic shoemaking craftsmanship. The seams of the original shoe are unstitched, and individual fabric or leather parts (panels) are replaced with luxurious materials like faux snakeskin, velvet, denim, or Louis Vuitton patterns and sewn back together.
• Accessories & Deconstruction: Adding physical elements like studs, thick ropes instead of normal shoelaces (rope laces), velcro patches, or the deliberate cutting and asymmetrical reassembly of the shoe.

In the global sneaker scene, it's heavily about exclusivity and self-expression. Even strictly limited standard shoes are often produced tens of thousands of times and worn by many.

A custom sneaker guarantees that no one else in the world owns the exact same shoe. It is a wearable work of art that perfectly reflects your personality, hobbies (e.g., through a motif from your favorite show), or your completely unique sense of fashion.

The price for professional custom sneakers is extremely variable and ranges from around $150 to well over $5,000.

Basically, the final price always consists of two components: the price of the base shoe (which must be purchased new) and the labor of the customizer. Since this is handcrafted work, you are primarily paying for the working time, the craftsmanship, and the artist's name.

Price Ranges for Custom Sneakers

The 4 Main Price Factors

• 1. The Technique (Painting vs. Bespoke): This is the biggest factor. A shoe can be painted in great detail in 5 to 10 hours. A "Bespoke" custom (taking apart, recutting, and sewing luxury materials), however, is traditional shoemaking. There are often 40 to 80 hours of pure manual labor in a single pair, justifying prices starting at $1,500.
• 2. Level of Detail and Working Time: For painted sneakers, the calculation is simple: the more intricate the motif, the longer it takes. A photorealistic portrait of a basketball player on the side of a shoe requires much more time and talent than a simple camouflage pattern.
• 3. Material Costs: Normal leather paints (e.g., from the brand Angelus) are relatively cheap. But as soon as real Swarovski stones are individually glued on, or the customizer uses an original, cut-up Louis Vuitton bag to sew its material into the shoe, material costs skyrocket.
• 4. The Artist's Reputation: As in classical art, you also pay for the name here. A local hobby artist looking to earn some extra money might charge $20 an hour. World-renowned customizers, such as The Shoe Surgeon (who also works for celebrities and athletes), charge prices ranging from $3,000 to over $10,000 for their bespoke work.

All offered products are authentic base products, regardless of the brand.

Please take our care instructions to heart so that you can enjoy your sneakers for as long as possible. NO machine washing! Hand wash only. Do not use harsh, corrosive, or alcohol-based cleaning agents. DO NOT scratch or rub the painted surfaces hard.

Yes. To place an individual order, you can do this via email, contact form, or phone. To ensure a quick processing of the offer, we need as much information from you as possible, such as shoe size, shoe model, delivery date, color, and motif. If you have a picture of the sneaker or the motif, it is best to send it along right away.

Yes. Our products are water- and weather-resistant. We prepare the shoes professionally for processing and use Jacquard clear coat. This means you can also wear the shoes in rain and snow. The painted surfaces must not be roughly scratched. Our sneakers wear out just like normal sneakers. So wear them with love and care.

Yes, if you opened a customer account during the checkout process, you can track the progress of your order.

If you did not do this, you are welcome to send us an email with the corresponding 5-digit order number.

Once you have ordered and paid, your order is final. However, you can always send an email to contact@tritt-kunst.ch to request changes. We cannot guarantee that these changes can be accommodated, though.

You can make your payment using Mastercard, Visa, or Apple Pay. If you do not make a payment, your order will be canceled. If you have already made your payment, your order is final.

All payments must be made in Swiss Francs (CHF). We accept payments via Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and TWINT.

PostPac Economy, PostPac Priority

Switzerland - Liechtenstein 2-5 days.

Shipping within Europe 7-14 days.

We are not responsible for delays that may be caused by the Swiss Post or customs. When shipping outside of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, customs duties may apply, which are not covered by the seller.

You can find the shipping costs for your country under Payment and Shipping.

Please note that products from third-party providers (or products of other brands) offered on this website that have undergone individual customization are excluded from returns and/or exchanges.

Our company is located at Langweidstrasse 4 in CH-8624 Grüt/Gossau. It is not open for public visits.

Our products are sold exclusively online.

If our answers to the Frequently Asked Questions could not fully clarify your concern, the best way to reach us is via the contact form or by email at info@tritt-kunst.ch.

Our WhatsApp and email service is available on weekdays from Monday to Friday. Please expect a reply within 24 hours.