Upcycled New Balance Leotard Designed by Cierra Boyd
"I usually begin with a restoration process for the sneakers by cleaning them and even doing a small paint job when necessary to get them back to their normal condition. When I'm done with the restoration process, I start to deconstruct using a utility knife. After they are deconstructed, I sew them together using a special sewing machine used to sew heavy-duty materials. I put all the pieces together like a puzzle, and the process usually takes me one to four hours depending on what I'm making. A corset can take up to one hour, but the full body sneaker outfit can take me two to four hours if I stay focused".
"I source all my materials from local thrift stores, and I've formed a relationship with a deadstock shoe warehouse in my community as well. The warehouse has hundreds of sneakers that have been in their facility for over 10 years — a lot of the shoes are often damaged, dirty, don't have matches, or are no longer manufactured, and most average customers would not purchase them. Therefore, they will continue to go unused based on their condition. I also have family, friends, and even followers on social media make donations to me with their old and unwanted sneakers and clothing". — Cierra Boyd