No matter how many color combinations and patterns Vans come in, or how many straps and buckles there are on various styles of Pumas, there will always be a consumer who wants something different.
Because of the demand for the perfect sneaker, companies like Vans, Puma and Nike have opened online custom shops to put the consumer in the designer's seat.
On vans.com, Vans lovers can choose between Slip-Ons and Old Skools to make their own. From heel to toe, inside and out, everything on the shoes can be customized in up to sixteen different colors and patterns.
For some, the appeal of the perfect shoe isn't all about aesthetics. Instead, they just want a good basic shoe that isn't always available at Journeys.
"I couldn't find a color scheme that I liked on the Vans online shop, so I just created my own," undeclared freshman Taylor Swope says. "It was pretty simple, just a totally black shoe with bright red trim."
Nike's custom online store, NIKEiD.com, offers seven shoe styles in custom colors and pre-designed color combinations of various college football teams. For the athlete who wants the ideal look and best performing sneaker, NIKEiD is a great solution.
Buying the perfect sneaker isn't going to leave consumers with empty pockets. In store, a generic pair of Vans is in the $40 range — a custom pair starts at $50, without the cost of shipping. Nike's NIKEiD customized sneakers are the same price as their pre-made counterparts, from $80 to $170.
Whether they're for comfort, style or performance, custom shoes are a fashion statement completely made to fit the consumer's personality.
