New York Kicks black beanie

New York Kicks

The New York Kicks is a very special design to me. This is one of the longest standing designs in the portfolio, and was created from scratch to finish in the subway during the many hours selling my prints on the L train platform at Union Square in 2013. My concept was simple- hanging sneakers, or “Kicks” from the telephone wire, and paying tribute to my childhood basketball sneakers- The Famous Chuck Taylors. My first task was to use some carefully carved out geometry in changing “Knicks” to “Kicks”. This seemed in theory like a fairly easy challenge, but it was not. Using only a pencil, eraser, Micron pen, careful set of eyes and steady left hand- I tediously set off on my adventure of lettering craftsmanship. Many hours and distractions later, I was proud of what I had created; a clean and crispy block lettering of “Kicks”.

I then bought some tracing paper from Blick to separate the layers. I meticulously drew the sneakers and separated the stitching on the Chuck Taylors to give it a splendid detail. This design was meant to become an intricate embroidery. Adding the telephone poles on either side with a pigeon to boot (no pun intended), the hanging shoes represent a classic urban backdrop. Whether territorial regarding drug trade, bullying, or simply a way to say goodbye to old Kicks. The hanging shoes from the telephone wire is a staple of urban culture and in this particular tribute, paying homage to old school sneakers from my childhood. New York Kicks will always represent the beginnings of my artistic journey throughout the subway tunnels and systems.

Material:

- 100% Acrylic

Features:

- Rib knit

Specs & Sizing:

- One size fits most

Care:

Dry clean or wash normally, no dryer.