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There’s something blowing up on Instagram right now, and it’s caught all of our attention… custom apparel. It seems like everyone and their mother has the creative and artistic talent to be making custom sneakers, hats, bags, jewelry, clothing – the list is endless – and they’re all using Instagram as the place to show off and sell their creations.
Lucky for us, we know one of the all-star designers and got an exclusive look into her world of custom apparel. Introducing… @kicksbysammy
SF: How did you get started with your custom apparel business?
KBS: The summer of 2013, before my freshman year of college, I was bored at home and found an old pair of shoes in my closet and wanted to try it out. I drew a design on them and posted them, and then all of my friends wanted a pair! Since then, I’ve been making kicks all the time.
SF: How has Instagram help you reach customers?
KBS: Instagram has definitely helped me reach a larger audience and spread my business. My followers see my designs, and then tag friends, who then can continue to tag other people. It’s also a great platform that is easily accessible since basically everyone has an Instagram now. I also like using Instagram because it is a good way to compare and see what else is out there in the custom apparel market.
SF: How long does it take you to make a pair of sneakers?
KBS: A pair of shoes takes me about 8 hours, and the hats can take me a bit longer.
SF: Who are your biggest clients?
KBS: My audience is around 6-18-year-olds. The younger kids love having their favorite characters on a pair of custom shoes, and the older crowd likes to order kicks for camp, or when they start college!
SF: What is your most favorite design?
KBS: I started with just designing custom college shoes, but since then expanded to design shoes for camps, sports teams, young children’s shoes, and any custom shoes. I love making a customized pair when someone will tell me their interests and hobbies, and then I can create a design based off of that. It’s really fun to be creative that way!
Here are some of Sammy’s coolest kicks and designs. Check out @kicksbysammy on Instagram or kicksbysammy.com for your own pair!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFMCtr-r4Yk/?taken-by=kicksbysammy
https://www.instagram.com/p/qNgYrPL4es/?taken-by=kicksbysammy
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH-GocnD5jX/?taken-by=kicksbysammy
https://www.instagram.com/p/1qdCFaL4Rc/?taken-by=kicksbysammy
https://www.instagram.com/p/5CgkRHL4Q8/?taken-by=kicksbysammy
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[Photo: K@KicksBySammy]
