The 'Sneaker Mechanic' is turning heads with his custom kicks
Ben Johnson, aka “The Sneaker Mechanic,” has been obsessed with sneakers since he was 4 years old. Following the passing of a close friend, the sneaker customizer, of Temecula, decided to pursue his dreams and teach himself how to paint sneakers. Now 23, the Californian native has since turned that hobby into a full-time passion.
“Customizing was a tough learning curve,” he said in an episode of “60 Second Docs.” “It took me a while to kind of learn the craft.”
Over the years, Johnson, who customizes everything from a pair of Vans Old Skools to Nike Air Force Ones, has styled shoes for artists such as Billie Eilish, Tyga and The Game. He even once competed on MTV’s “Sneaker Wars,” where he went head-to-head with another contestant to redesign a pair of Balenciaga Speed Trainers.
This week’s customizers go HEAD TO HEAD to see who can turn the Balenciaga Speed Trainer into the ultimate prom shoe. 💃🕺
Which custom shoe will have you arriving to prom swaggy af? Watch the latest episode of 'MTV's Sneaker Wars' here 👇 pic.twitter.com/HnTKQUsTp8— Wild 'N Out (@WildNOut) March 29, 2020
“The reveal is everything to me,” he said on “60 Second Docs.” “I literally will work 20+ hours on a shoe just to see the aftermath. That’s what I live for.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Johnson has also amassed a large social media following, with over 500,000 followers on TikTok and more than 250,000 followers on Instagram.
“I’m a boring person, other than this,” he joked in reference to his craft.
Check out some of Johnson’s creations in the video above.
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