For sneakerheads and DIY enthusiasts alike, "Custom Sneakers" offers all kinds of ways to create personalized footwear. Written by Kenza Trasfi (known online as KNZ), a French artist and TikTok star renowned for her sneaker transformations, this book has clear instructions, stunning photography by Alexi Pav, and a deep appreciation for sneaker culture.

The book begins with a brief but engaging history of sneakers, framing them as cultural symbols before diving into customization techniques. Trasfi covers all the essentials—painting, stenciling, dyeing, and even more advanced methods like deconstruction and airbrushing—with step-by-step tutorials that are accessible to beginners but detailed enough for experienced customizers. Each project is accompanied by vibrant photos that showcase the transformations, from subtle tweaks to bold redesigns, making it easy to visualize the possibilities. Trasfi shares expert tips on materials, from the best paints to use for longevity to how to prep sneakers for customization, ensuring that readers’ creations not only look great but hold up over time. The included FAQ section addresses common challenges, like preventing cracks in paint or choosing the right adhesives, which adds valuable troubleshooting support.

While the book excels in instruction and visual appeal, a few of the designs lean heavily into Trasfi’s signature style, which might not resonate with everyone. A wider variety of aesthetics could have made the projects feel more universally adaptable. That said, the "Bonus Inspo" section does encourage readers to develop their own creative twists, pushing beyond the templates to explore personal expression.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

A deep and instructive look at sneaker customization, with careful attention paid to explaining material and nice concrete details careful step-by-steps for advanced techniques. The appendixes have notes on advanced tools, sneaker care, and a gallery of projects for inspiration. The only point of critique might be that the customization projects in the book are occasionally too subtle in their impact for people (like me) not versed in sneaker culture.

If you’ve ever looked at a pair of trainers and thought, “these could use a personal twist,” then this book is for you . Custom Sneakers is a great resource for anyone curious about the art of shoe customization. Whether you’re a total beginner or someone who’s already dabbled with a paint pen, it walks you through the essentials with clarity and style.

From paint types to prep techniques, the book includes detailed breakdowns of the supplies you’ll need and compares different materials with helpful pros and cons. What truly sets it apart are the stunning photographs and the instructions are refreshingly easy to follow, even for those who usually avoid DIY guides.

It’s not just a manual; it’s a spark for creativity. Kenza and Alexi make the process feel achievable and exciting. If you’re ready to turn your kicks into wearable art, this book is a brilliant place to start.

This vibrant, hands-on guide by KNZ is perfect for anyone ready to step into sneaker customization. With tutorials on painting, stitching, and stenciling popular styles like Jordans and Stan Smiths, it makes upcycling accessible and exciting. The photos are stunning, the instructions are clear, and the creative inspiration is endless. It’s a must-have for anyone looking to explore their artistic side through wearable art. Whether you’re a sneaker lover or a craft lover, this book delivers!

This nicely presented book gives a brief history of sneaker culture and background to customising sneakers, before diving in to the how to. It places the art in a cultural context. the instructions are clear, the pictures are pretty and the example are inspiring.

I'm not sure why I requested this book in the first place, since I'm not a fan of brand name sneakers (not as a fashion thing, but in the running world). Despite this i found this book educative, pretty and a tiny bit inspiring, even though I won't be painting my own sneakers anytime soon.

Who knew that one could customize trainers so easily! Definitely a skill that will involve practice and patience but the techniques outlined in the book will help

This is a great resource for anyone curious about how to customize their shoes. It gives details on what supplies to use, the pros and cons of using leather, faux, and canvas materials, and useful instructions.

First of all, many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC granted to me. I loved the book, since I am a great fan of fashion style content and also love skeakers, I find it interesting to read a book about personalization skills and cues for everyone to do it.

The author did a wonderful job of giving step by step instructions on how to customize various sneaker styles. They went into the history of thr shoe, the materials needed to customize the shoe and even added mock up pages.

Good book for beginners.