Hey William,
On this page, exclusively for you, you will find all the process updates related to your bespoke sneakers. Let me explain how this page works. Below is a gallery of all the ordered shoes. When you click on a photo, you'll be scrolled down to see updates for the selected sneaker. Please let us know if you'd like more information about the shoes!
VIJZ MORRESTA -
VIJZ MORRESTA -
Our own silhouette; Morresta. A gift for you Billy!
Air Jordan 1 Gentleman
Removing the uppers…
Hi there,
We hope you're doing well and are as thrilled as we are about the progress of your handmade sneakers. We've got some exciting updates to share, so let's jump right in.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we've successfully disassembled the donor shoes, carefully separating the upper from the sole. The upper has been thoughtfully stored for a future project that's all about re-fashion and sustainability.
Now, let's dive into the process of prepping the sole for your bespoke sneakers. First things first, we removed all the laces and insoles from the shoes with precision. For cup soles, such as Jordan and Air Force silhouettes, we diligently snipped away any stitches, ensuring everything's on point.
Now, here's where the magic happens! We treated the shoes with a special chemical solution that works its wonders on the original adhesive. It's like watching a puzzle unravel - the glue weakens, and the upper starts parting ways with the sole. All part of the master plan to craft your bespokes! 🎉
The shoes got to relax in the chemical pool for about 15 to 30 minutes - a mini spa session for your sneakers! Then, with the help of a screwdriver, we created a little gap between the upper and the sole, allowing us to gently separate them by hand. Careful hands, happy shoes!
We won't sugarcoat it; the chemical solution does have a distinct odor. So, we made sure the soles got some fresh air to air out that scent. No funky odors on our watch!
We're super stoked to be part of your sneaker journey, and we promise more updates are coming your way. If you have any questions or want to geek out about sneakers, don't hesitate to contact us anytime!
TEAM VIJZ
Preparations
Hi there,
Exciting news! We have prepared all the orders and will soon begin crafting your shoes. As you can see from the attached image, we've received quite a few orders – 17 in total, with 10 in brown and 7 in black. Almost all of the donor shoes are in, and we're ready to get started.
We use the donor shoes for the soles. We remove the upper from the sole and keep only the sole itself. At the moment, the uppers are being stored in our workshop for a future sustainability project that we're eager to share with you. Stay tuned for a later update with a detailed explanation of how we separate the soles – it's a fascinating process!
Expect an update from us every two weeks, so keep an eye on your mailbox to watch your shoes come to life. We can't wait to share this journey with you.
Air Max 1 - Tiffany & CO
Custom Shoebox
Hi There,
Today we worked on the special packaging of this release. This release was the first to have a custom made shoebox included.
We made this shoebox of Acrylic, we laser engraved the patterns. As you can see in the pictures, we glue them together and remain them in the same place for a couple of hours.
Next thing to do is place the logo’s on the box. We keep you updated!
TEAM VIJZ
Lasting
Hi there,
Exciting news, we have Lasted your shoes! Next thing to do is attaching them to the donor soles. We expect to ship your shoes this week! After attaching them to the donor soles, we will make the custom shoebox. This will also be added to the page.
We want to apolagize for taking so long for your first update, but we will make sure you’ll get a few more.
TEAM VIJZ
Gentleman
Air Max 1
7th june 2023
Hi there!
We hope you are doing fine. The end of the Gentlemen shoes are almost in sight, and with that we want to give you one of the last updates. The shoes are now getting stitched and will be finished this week. The leather is super smooth and has a really fine finish which we adore! We hope you do to! we also added some personal details for those who asked for it.
After stitching the upper we are ready to move to the final part of the process. Attaching the upper on to the sole. If you have any questions or inquiries just mail to tom@vijzbespokes. I hope you liked the update and i can’t wait to send you the artworks.
greetz,
Tom, Team VIJZ
May 18
Hey there!
We just wanted to drop you a quick update on your shoes. So, during the process of removing the uppers from the soles, we ran into a little hiccup. Some of the color from the leather upper ended up on the soles. It's not a big deal though, as we've dealt with this before and usually, a bit of acetone does the trick. But this time, the stains were a bit more stubborn, so we had to give the midsole a fresh coat of paint to make it look as new.
On a brighter note, we're excited to let you know that we're almost done cutting and perforating all the patterns for your shoes. Our team has been working their magic, carefully crafting every detail. It's all about the precision and the little things, you know?
We're dedicated to giving you the best shoes possible, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this process. If you have any questions or need anything, feel free to reach out to our team. They're always here to help.
May 2
Hi there, we started with tracing and cutting the patterns for your Air Max 1 Gentleman. For this leather, we use a white pencil because this is the best visible.
The fun thing about the white pencils is that the first second you trace it, the line is not well visible. But when you wait a couple of seconds, it’s going to get more visible, as you can see in the picture.
At VIJZ, we have four different colors of pencils which ensures that we have visible lines on every material/color.
You can expect a new update later this week.
Donor Pairs
Hi,
Yesterday we removed the first batch of our latest releases, including your donor soles.
We do this by pouring acetone into the shoe first. We then let it wake for 15-20 minutes…
After waiting, we pour boiling hot water in the soles, which reacts with the acetone. This ensures the loosening will be a lot easier.
The next update will be about the materials. Keep you up to date!
Greetz, Tom
