By day, Xavier Kickz (aka Xavier Crews) is a software engineer. By night, he customizes kicks and films fun tutorial YouTube videos for his thousands of followers. Xavier has been customizing shoes for more than 10 years and has recorded more than 120 videos. A graduate of Virginia State University, Xavier often gives back to his community by giving away his customized shoes, basketballs, iPads, and more. His goal in creating his videos for beginners is to teach creative techniques so viewers can build their skills and enjoy making things by hand. He lives, works, and inspires from his home in Raleigh, NC.

Introduction
SNEAKERS IN HISTORY: Definitive Moments in Sneaker Style
Q&A: Xavier’s Frequently Answered Questions
Workspace, Materials, and Tools: Workspace, Materials
Prep and Finishing Basics: Laces, Surface Cleaning, Taping, Finishing
Planning Your Design: Designing, Practicing Your Brushwork and Pen Work
1 Customizing with Paint
Sprinkle Drip Kicks
Cartoon Kicks
Tiger Stripes
Dragon Kicks
Painted Plaid
Freestyle High-Tops
Toothpick Painting
2 Paint Pen Color
Paint Pen Camo
Fine-Line Quickie
Paint Pen Doodling
Paint Pen on Dark Color
SNEAKERS IN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY: Sneakers, Sports, and Getting That Look
3 Crazy Color
Shaving Cream Color
Sharpie Tie-Dye
Cool Color Drip
Hydro-Dipped Marbelizing
Galactic Splatter
4 Airbrush and Stencil
Airbrushing Basics
Airbrushing Black Leather
Mix It Up
Handmade Stencil
Hot Stuff
Color Waves
Team Spirit
5 Paper, Cloth, Glitter, and Shine
Fabrication Transformation
Bedazzled Flash
Brushed-on Glitter
Cut-Paper Collage
SNEAKERS IN POP CULTURE: A Timeline of Kicks in Music and Movies
About Xavier
Acknowledgments
Index