TSG Limelight on emmanueLabor
How much do you know about the custom game? Meet emmanueLabor, he’s one of the hardest working dudes in the custom game. We’ve been following his work for a while now, so it’s time to put the spotlight on Mr. Labor. Today we introduce our new feature “TSG Limelight”, and the limelight is on a well respected customizer that goes by the name, emmanueLabor.
1.) Who is emmanueLabor?
emmanueLabor is a creative force aimed at taking over the universe! Nah, not the universe…..Earth will do for now lol. Seriously though, it’s really just an extension of me and a peek into my mind through custom sneakers etc.
2.) How did you fall in love with customizing sneakers?
I was doing it at an early age to refresh beat up shoes I had since my Mom couldn’t afford to buy me new ones all the time. That and I wanted to be an athletic shoe designer since I was like 12. I didn’t really get serious with it though till I ran across a pair of Methamphibian Rayguns AF1′s. I was up on people painting names or numbers and stuff on their shoes, but when I saw how he took a theme and applied it to a sneaker, I KNEW that was what I had to do.
3.) What’s your thoughts on the current state of the custom game?
I like where it’s going right now. It’s still a subculture within a subculture, but I think it’s slowly starting to gain some well deserved legitimacy with the outside world. I love that there are a bunch of different disciplines with customizing, and it seems like the sky is the limit with what we can do. It’s not just painting a logo on the heel anymore, people are really pushing the boundaries creatively.
4.) The best part of the customizing is…
….being able to make the shoe you want to make, the way you want to make it, and know that nobody else in the world has a pair.
5.) The worst part of customizing is…
…..the amount of time it actually takes to finish a pair. I wish I could do a pair a day.
6.) Do you think people respect customs? Why?
Nah. I mean there are some people in the know, and like I said, I think people are beginning to respect what we do, but overall I think a vast majority of people either think of customs as fakes, or they equate them to some shoes you can get in 10 minutes at a mall kiosk. They don’t really understand the artistry or the craftsmanship that goes into a really well done pair. they don’t understand the amount of time and effort that goes into a really well done pair.
7.) We’ve seen a lot of your customs, but what’s your favorite piece of work?
Ahhh….that’s like asking which child is your favorite lol if you asked me that 10 different times, I’d probably give you 10 different answers. But I guess I’d have to say the Kanye West College Dropout Dunks I did way back when Kanye was becoming popular. That shoe was the 1st pair I really got recognized for. Granted, there was a lot of hate on them, but there was a lot of love too. I feel like I really opened up the door to my creativity with those cause nobody was doing customs like those back then. I’d found a niche.
Kanye West “College Dropout” Dunks
8.) Have you ever got a job offer from a major sneaker company?
Nah, but I would love an opportunity.
9.) Do you hope to work for a major sneaker brand one day, or do you want to start your own brand?
Both. I’d love the chance to do some shoes with Nike or Adidas or Puma etc. But in the meantime I’m toying around with the idea of getting my own brand out there and just doing it all my way with no restrictions.
10.) What can people expect from emmanueLabor in the near future?
More hot sneakers along with a few projects outside of shoes. Some canvas work, some custom clothing and accessories….everything.
See more of emmanueLabor’s customs below.
Kanye West “Graduation” Dunks
Space Jam Air Force 1 Customs
Tiffany Dunk Customs
Vitamin Water Customs
Raekwon Customs
Category: TSG Limelight
Mad skills
Very Creative Emanuel! I like this guys passion for what he does! Creativity is always a love/hate thing from “society”, but as long as you do what you love and follow your passion, God will bless you! No matter what! TSG keep the limelight sessions coming, glad it wasnt someone oversaturated, who is already in or stay in the limelight.. I respect those on the come up in the shoegame or whatever game u in.. Anybody can do what some people do if they had their money or connects…I respect creativity.. Good work!
dude work is dope i would let him freak out one of my shoes.
Props to TSG for showcasing this very talented dude. He’s been at it for a long time. I wish him much success!
Gotta hand it to him, mayne….done WOWED me wit those Tiffs, real talk those joints are super duper clean….
Gotta give it up to ma dude!!! He knows wut he’s doin
i like them GRAD. AND the DROPOUTS he made for kanye really DOPE IMAGINATION…..
Much respect if i could customize shoes i would they do nothing but turn heads if done correctly
Those “purple tapes” lookin good
the raekwon joints are da shit hands down!
i wish those woulda came out with da shoe back in ’95!
nice man, keep doin your thing
respect due.
respect due.
big ups!
Wow what a waste if time my grandmother could do a better job than him. I’m pretty sure he will never make it pass this post, tell dude to step his game up cuz them shoes are weaker than a two year old child. Sorry TSG this is a FAiL!!!
Yo G Roc, are those custom “McFly’s” he’s workin on in the first few pics !?!? thats some real talent, keep doin ya thang, pimpin…
^well if that’s the case then ya grandma need to get with nike cus this guy has talent I’m jus mad at the space jam fusions please don’t let jb see those lol
This was well deserved! I’ve been a fan of his work for years and dude is always doing something different & innovative. Much props to him and G-Roc for the spotlight on him! What up G?
@tommASSo
hey man what’s ur problem? Stop hating this man has talent that people would kill for. I think it cool to be able to customize shoes this man is able to put his own swag on the shoe. So stoping hating tomm-ASS, keep up the good work E.L.!!!
^^^if you are dissin this guy, you are clueles when it comes to good customs. check this guys myspace page out, do some more research or something!! emmanuel labor, you got some dope sh*t, homie. keep doing you…..i’d love to get something from you.
mad props to him and all the other custom designers. their work is very much appreciated.
Nice work and I have nothing but respect for him. That’s a lot of hard work right there.
Now thats whats up.. I would love to get some kanye kicks done at some point. The low tops that he made are crazy!!!
i want to custom my ski boots to look like AF1s’or some J’s …any suggestions?
@tomasso
You obviously don’t know the sneaker game. Emmanuel Labor is the standard when it comes to customs. He’s been recognized by peers and pundits alike for his unparalleled designs. Google him. You, on the other hand, are another nobody who’s on that ignorant-ass hating sh*t. You embarrassed yourself. Your attempt to disparage and humiliate . . . FAIL!!!!
I know Nike actually made Zoom Force 1 snowboard boots that are based on AF1′s. EL actually customized a pair
^^they already have Ski/snowboard boots that look like ugly ass AF1′s…..search for em, you should be able to find em.
^^tomaso, back with the HATE!!!! Keep it up stud, everyone loves a hater……oh, by the way, what’s the last thing a celeb called you up for, apart from a BJ?
as an artist, who does a little shoe work, this is really inspiring. this isn’t the first i’ve seen of the custom game, but its, by far, the most talent ad dedication. love the spacejam xi concept forces.
PURPLE TAPES, ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN KICKS LMAO THEM JOINTS ARE HOT
Dude is good at what he does.
Schyeah.
Loving the Raekwons man. A lot cats don’t recognize the purple tape classics! WU TANG!
The college dropouts are to tough to even look at directly. Props!!!
This guy is part of the reason i started customizing
That kanye west fuzzy bear dunk is crazy. They look real nicee
Congrads on the exposure EL…you already how I feel.
mad love & respect!!!
BUY RAEKWON’S NEW CD!
Rae and Ghost doin’ what
they do best…crapping on 99.9 percent of current
“artists” out there….
he’s sick.. but aint gone lie thoes spacejam af1 r UGLY! lol
thats some sweet shit..big props 2 you man
NIKE might hire him if he keeps on coming up with fusions. hes got mad skills but i think some of the shoes above were pretty ugly. the raekwon shoes were sick!
big ups to EL and TSG! got me looking forward to future Limelight features.
i like what i see here. props.
This is awesome! …el is the man!! Hes a heavyweight in the game its because of mizzee an el that i startef doing full themed sneakers ..as far as the recon stuff goes it still
blows my mind the skill an craftsman ship this dude has !! Keep killin um el!! …@TOMASSO im not gonna dignify your response with an inteligent comment since
u seem so ignorant so youll get an ignorant response… i hope sum1 lights you an ur grandmother on FiRe ,preferably while ur gettin tossed down a flight of stairs
EL does his thing and I have nothing but respect for his craft, hardwork, and mindset. Definitely looking forward to his future works.
where do u get everything u use to make your shoes cause i costomize too and i need some cool stuff…………and i like the…Space Jam Air Force 1