Project “B.Side + Vans Limited Edition Custom Sneakers” – 65 exclusive pairs of Slip-ons for VANS – PT.

Customizing sneakers was once one of my passions, perhaps influenced by friends like Mosaik and other urban artists. The idea of taking a pair of sneakers and turning it into a unique and personalized work of art always fascinated me.

When VANS Portugal invited me to develop a project with B..SIDE in 2006, it was the perfect opportunity to get involved in this creative world.

Thus, the challenge arose to personalize 66 pairs of Vans by hand, even though I knew it would be a long journey.

The project took two months to complete, and fortunately, I had the support of three good professional photographer friends who were willing to document the entire creation process. In the end, I gathered a collection of photos that documented the entire process. Every day, I updated a blog with the progress that had been made. It was an inside view of the creative journey behind the customization of each pair of Vans. The blog provided insights into the inspiration behind each design, the materials and techniques used, and the challenges encountered along the way.

Creating each pair of personalized Vans was a unique and personal experience. It was an intense job on each pair, ensuring that each one was truly unique.

Photography ©

Vasco Célio

Lars Jansen
Ricardo Bravo