Shoes by awesometown, caveman
Following in the phenomenon of the collaborative and interactive entertainment ground breakers- American Idol, Wikipedia, and Threadless- RYZ launches an interactive design space where participants are invited to create their very own footwear.
Founded by footwear industry veteran Rob Langstaff, formerly President of Adidas America and Adidas Japan, RYZ is a progressive, web-based and social-community sourced footwear design brand. It provides an online platform whereby consumers can have their unique sneaker design ideas brought to life via internet-based design competitions and community-based voting.
Consumers log on to RYZwear.com, download a template of a high-top canvas shoe, add graphic applications, and then upload the template back to the site. Each competition remains open for a four-week period; once closed, the designs are voted on by the web community with the help of an elite industry artist panel, including Worship Worthy’s own Saint Agnes, David Gensler, President of The Keystone Design Unit (KDU), and Chris Vidal, a well-respected member of the sneaker world, who will provide feedback on design submissions. The winning design gets produced with the designer awarded $1,000 plus a $1 royalty for each pair sold.
“We are excited to provide a stage for young designers to showcase their creativity, and allow the real trendsetters to dictate what gets produced,” says Langstaff.
The first winning shoe design to be featured and sold on the site was selected last week through a Portland-based design competition that paid homage to the fact that Portland is considered ‘sneaker universe’ to many (the Nike and Adidas headquarters are in the area). Over 150 artists, designers, musicians, sneakerheads and young professionals converged to celebrate the launch of RYZ.
Jason Ehlers, a well-known graffiti artist of Portland, otherwise known as ‘Caveman’, was the winning designer with his unique shoe design titled, ‘The Creep.’
To view his design and upload your own, visit: www.ryzwear.com.
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ON A SIDE NOTE
Treat your boy with a trip to Air Traffic Control, the new authority on limited edition sneakers in Miami. While you’re man’s scoping the consignment sneaks, treat yourself with the apparel featuring Married to the Mob and Hellz Bellz. Air Traffic Control, 1601 Washington Ave. Suite 114, Miami Beach, Florida.
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