The Andy Shoe
Shoe design by Andy Martinez - Photo Credit: Viola Chip
Andy Martinez
Where are you from?
Washington Heights
A lot of brands and creatives make their product or merchandise debut with tees, hoodies or hats. What made you choose sneakers?
Its like making a band shirt for a band that doesn't even exist.
Andy Martinez - Photo Credit: Viola Chip
I think to create T-shirts, hoodies, or hats, first you need a product. I tried making "Merch" but was lost. Its like making a band shirt for a band that doesn't even exist. The sneaker route allows me to not only stand on my own 2, but allows me to tell a genuine story without feeling like I'm designing for the sake of designing, you know?
Describe your workplace.
I usually work at home! In my living room, with Seinfeld playing in the background, and Chase (my Cat) rolling around on the ground.
What did your first concept look like?
When I was 16, I did my first deconstruction project. They were a pair of air max 1's and red and white Barkley's. The year was 2006, so I wasn't brave enough to wear them to school.
Shoe Design by Andy Martinez - Photo Credit: Viola Chip
How did you decide on the Chuck Taylor body and the Air Force 1 sole as your trademark sneaker?
I wanted to bring two kids, from two different lunch tables, together to find a common ground.
Shoe Design by Andy Martinez - Photo Credit: Viola Chip
What has been your biggest challenge in honing your craft?
Sticking to one media. Although I feel like jumping from media to media helps me problem solve in art, or just helps me not be afraid of taking the first step in any project.
What are your thoughts or opinions on giant shoe brands like Nike and Adidas taking bigger strides over the past decade collaborating with smaller fashion houses and designers? (ACW, Fragment, Carhartt WIP, Sacai, etc.)
It's cute. But I can't wait until those big houses have official collabs with each other! I think thats when they'll actually allow me to sit at their lunch table.
Where do you draw inspiration from when you're creating new combos and silhouettes?
Most inspiration comes from shapes and colors. I have a big bag full of sneaker uppers and soles that have fallen apart over the years. I spill the bag on a table, and begin to freely placing the shapes and patterns against each other. you'd be surprised how many of those shapes compliment each other.
Deconstructed Air Force 1s - Photo Credit: Andy Martinez
Is music a big part of your creative process? If so, name some songs you're listening to at the moment.
Music is definitely part of my creative process. Hip Hop was my first genre and it basically introduced me to all these other genres of music they sampled from. I could compare it to me "sampling" different parts of sneakers to create a new shoe.
What are your three principles for design?
circle, line, circle
Do you feel the need to elevate your game? If so, how do you plan to do so?
Theres always room for improvement for sure! I try not to think about that too much, and grow organically.
What advice do you have for someone who is passionate about something, but has no idea how or where to start?
Pick up something else in the mean time! This is exactly how I started making sneakers. The main thing is to do something creative even when you're not working on "your craft." Think of it as an exercise rather than a task. Also, over thinking leads to you not starting at all.
Andy Martinez - Photo Credit: Viola Chip