Sneaker customisation means couple's firm is on the upper

Oct 7 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A PAIR of fashion designers have come up with a new way of allowing youngsters to customise their trainers are now looking to expand their business into South America and Asia.

Husband and wife team Zoe and Ollie Gilbertson have launched new online business Sneakart, which will soon begin selling patterned adhesive film called Sneakskin that can be applied to any trainer, and they say it is waterproof, durable and PVC free.

They are already in talks with some of the world’s biggest sports shoe manufacturers and believe that the product will be sold in sports shops throughout the UK by next year as the craze for trainer customisation continues to become more popular among the youth market.

The pair are no strangers to the world of fashion, with Mrs Gilbertson having moved to Germany from her native Newcastle in early 2000 to work for sports giant Adidas, where she designed a number of key pieces, including the 2003-2004 Newcastle United away kit.

It was in Germany that she met Ollie, before the pair moved to America and Canada to work for an outdoor clothing designer, and then back to Germany, after the birth of their daughter, to work at Puma. Following the birth of their son, the pair returned to the UK to be closer to their families, as well as launch the new business website www.sneakart.com. Mrs Gilbertson said: “Our initial idea for Sneakskin came about while trying to find an easy way for people to customise their trainers. We saw that there weren’t any easy options.”

They were able to secure a £75,000 grant from One North East’s Design and Creative Fund earlier this year, which they are using to build up a dedicated marketing and sales team, as well as help them expand into worldwide markets.

Mr Gilbertson said: “As designers, we wanted to bring shoe lovers and artists together to share their talent and ideas to the benefit of all.

“We’ve spent years racking our brains, trying, testing and developing a way that will allow the stickers to stay on a shoe in the roughest weather. Now that we’ve nailed it, we’re confident of getting our product out there.”

“With the investment we have been able to secure distribution in the US and plan to launch Sneakart to European retail as soon as this month. 2010 will bring new opportunities and we would like to expand into areas such as South America and Asia.”

Jon Bradford, fund manager for the Design and Creative Fund, said: “This creative take on customisation is obviously something that can be marketed on a global scale, to all ages, tastes and styles. I can already see this product hanging inside sports shops, shoe shops and trainer boxes.”