Vijzbespokes 10th anniversary
Air Max 1 “Survivor”
For the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Vijzbespokes studio, in 2024, they launched a design contest to win the sneakers of our dream. As I got a passion for sneakers, I wanted to try my luck. Few weeks later, I got the good news that I was the winner of the competition!
I answered them a few questions about the creative process on this occasion :
“Who is Am1gen? Tell us a bit more about yourself: where are you from, how did you get involved in sneakers? When did you start making designs/mockups?”
My name is Clément Le Bouc, I'm working as a professional freelance 3D artist and graphic designer (known as "Eighty Five"), based in Paris, France, and passionated about sneakers in my spare time. As a kid, the only pair of Air Max I had, was an Air Max BW "Cargo Khaki", that my mother gave to me for Christmas. She had hidden it for months, but I had found the hiding place and I would open the box quietly when she wasn't at home, a thrilling feeling! Later, I remember that the hype around the Staple Dunk Low "Pigeon" had a huge impact on me and introduce me to the world of sneakers design. But the real game-changer was the frustration with the lack of choice on Nike ID (later Nike By You) and discovering the world of bespoke and famous creators like the NikeLAB Bespoke, Shoe Surgeon, Vijzbespokes or Margiello, just to name a few. I started making designs / mockups for fun in 2018. Then from 2021 to 2023, starting during the pandemic, I learned to make my first homemade Air Max 1 bespoke by watching a lot of reels on Instagram. That was the perfect time for me to practice mockups and push my skills to the next level, as the retail sneakers game had become boring to me.
“How did you make the mockup? Tell us about the combination of AI & Photoshop”
In parallel, I started experimenting with Midjourney in combination with Photoshop. AI opens up a wide range of possibilities for me. I use it primarily as a starting point for inspiration and brainstorming. Iteration after iteration, it pushes my creativity to new horizons that I might not have reached on my own. I spend a lot of time in Photoshop, modifying and refining the designs until I feel they’ve reached something interesting. In August 2023, I decided to create an Instagram page (@am1gen) to share my best designs and colorways.
“How did you come up with the survivor concept? What was your inspiration?”
When Vijzbespokes opened their 10th anniversary competition, I knew I wanted to create something through this process. I first started using ChatGPT to iterate on some sneakers concepts based on various pop culture themes, but I wasn’t satisfied with the direction it was taking. I recalled advices from Vijzbespokes about the importance of storytelling, and realized that this was the best way to drive the concept.So, I decided to work around a theme that deeply inspires me: the sea word. I always loved survival stories, like "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks or documentaries about people who have survived tragic accidents. I made about fifty iterations of Midjourney images of a side view of an Air Max 1 as a base for reflection, and make a selection until I found one that got something promising. Then started the real creative process : I imported it into Photoshop, removed the flawed areas, recreated new yokes, changed colors, swapped materials, and added details. I also transposed the design in Photoshop to different perspectives (top view and back view), and added additional details, materials, and moodboard informations to better convey the concept.
Can you tell me more about the materials that have been used?
The materials play a major role in the design. In fact, I believe that materials evoke strong emotional reactions, often connect us to memories from our past and tell a story on their own.
I tried to incorporate water-resistant materials inspired by the marine universe, such as wax coat, oilcloth, nylon or leather. At the same time, I wanted to include cozy and comfortable materials, like polar fleece or orange quilted nylon (similar to inside of bomber jackets). These last two examples remind me of the feeling of being protected from the cold or rain in my polar jacket or bomber jacket. The goal of this design was also to upcycle materials (like repurposing polar fleece from an old jacket) to reflect the recycling mindset of survivors.
“Why & what details did you use?”
Details are like spice, they elevate any creation to the next level. I started writing a list of ideas that came to my mind (since ideas can quickly fade away). Some didn't make the cut, but at the end of the day, some of them worked.
The first detail I added was an embroidery compass logo on the heeltab. That's the main tool for finding our way in the ocean and also recalls the helm of a boat. Next, I added a second embroidered detail: a fish skeleton logo on the tongue label, a design I often drew as a child. That reminds us of the sacrifice of these animals when it comes to our own survival. The first layer of rope laces looks like fisherman ropes, so I kept it from Midjourney. I then added a second layer of rope laces with a cord lock system to give it a look reminiscent of boat sails. I also incorporated the S.O.S signal on the toebox, that reminds of the universal signal send by the survivors. Additionally, I completed the design with a constellation printed on the insole, symbolizing the way that it can help us find our way in the darkness. One of the final details I added was yellow and sand-colored zig-zag stitching to evoke the sense of a repaired and recycled item, just like how survivors repurpose their broken stuff. Finally, a must-have detail: the sand-colored mini swoosh on the mudguard,which, to me, represents the premium rank of the Air Max 1!
“What can you tell about the colors of the concept?”
Before any AI work, I knew I wanted a colorway featuring bright orange with hints of yellow, similar to survival life rafts. I guided Midjourney to achieve this palette, specifying the colors I wanted to incorporate.What fascinates me is when the colors tie into the storytelling: bright orange wax coat (life rafts), brown old leather (distressed boat wood), sail oil cloth canvas (boat sails), black leather (darkness of the night), light copper collar (rust), cream speckled midsole (beach sand)...and so on.
Interestingly, sometimes I realized after the fact that an element fit the storytelling, like the rust color or the sand color. I guess I left them in unconsciously, because I felt it brought something interesting, and I didn't have the perspective to analyze them at the time.
“What is your most favorite detail of this concept?”
One detail is really special to me, that's the "hidden" S.O.S signal embossed (or perforated) on the toebox. That's subtle, but I like the fact that you could have to look twice to catch the meaning of that detail.