We had the good fortune of connecting with iKissCustoms and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi iKissCustoms, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Honestly, the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make was leaving my hometown. I’m born and raised in Columbus, Ohio ( Go Bucks ! ) so leaving the comfort of having my family, friends and not to mention a few of my favorite hometown staples it was a battle I had with myself for YEARS.

In the summer of 2021, I relocated to NC. Within 90 days of being there i landed my First Celebrity client which was Bow Wow who oddly enough is also from Columbus, OH. . Talk about full circle!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The sneaker community is so much larger than most people think. Within that community are the Sneaker Designers & Customizers. It was super important that I find my voice as an artist or develop a style/way of doing things that will always make my work stand out even against the look a-likes.
Even though I typically create 1of1 designs it truly is those small details that take the finished custom over the top. This was something i learned as i progressed through my career.

The journey began as simply cleaning and restoring shoes. One day i had a pair brought to me that were ….a little more loved than others and after many attempts to bring them back to life, I wasn’t satisfied with the results. I offered to repaint them a different color, luckily They accepted. Their reaction When they saw their new shoes was priceless! I knew they wanted to kiss them by the way their face lit up.. After a while I decided i would name my business iKissCustoms because i knew i wanted to only create quality designs that would make my client want to kiss them with joy and admiration. I picked the perfect name because I’ve saw my fair share of kisses being laid on my creations!

Fast forward roughly 7 yrs later, Ive created custom sneakers that have been shipped to almost all 50 states, Europe & Canada! Ive also added “Celebrity Customizer” to my resume by creating some 1of1s for a list of celebs including; Bow Wow, Mike Epps, Boosie Badazz & Nardo Wick ( my latest collab) to name a few!

The feeling is so hard to describe to see my work on the stage in front of thousands of people or to pick my shoes over the designer pairs in the closet. Its just more flame added to the fire !

Its so amazing what you can accomplish when you stay focused on the path you see for your self and walk it! … if noone else sees where you’re going they will when you reach the destination! Always Keep going !

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So I would definitely be considered that spare of that moment friend. BUT within that week we would for sure have to eat at giordano’s, barrio, condados, old bag of nails ( the best shrimp and chips ! ) and of course we would grab a huge OSU pizza!

Im a huge kid at heart so a 4d movie is in the cards for that week along with hitting a few nightspots, Dave & Busters, Scene 75 and if planning was perfect a concert too.

Being a huge traveler, a mini road trip to a city near by to explore what it has to offer I would squeeze in as well!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout my parents for always loving me & for supporting me through all of my endeavors & life itself ! Having them in my corner has been a huge factor in my success.

I also would love to shoutout my life partner who has from day 1 always been there to push me when i need it and being my backbone. Showing support in every way possible and loving me for me !

Website: https://ikisscustoms.company.site/

Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/iKissCustoms_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/vX7oxXj3kPfQTZnX/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Photographs by Britt

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