I've done a few Kobe customs and have seen a lot more, but none that paid tribute to his high school days. I wanted to tell another story from before his NBA career and the Flight 89's retro vibes made it the perfect silhouette to use as a base.
If you're a Kobe fan, you recognized the school colors right away. Kobe's high school number, #33, was added to the lateral sides of the both heels in bold, black numerics. Taking cues from the Kobe 5 Protro "Big Stage", on the lateral sides of the forefoot on both shoes, I added a few of Kobe's record breaking stats from his senior year in a suede-like, white material. As a senior, Kobe averaged 30.8 points, 6.5 assists, 3.8 blocked shots per game, and a total of 2,883 points, leading his team to a Class 4A state title.
The shoes were aged to represent a vintage form and give them an old school hardwood feel. My goal was to mimic a shoe that Kobe may have worn on the court for his senior year in 1996 and was later placed alongside other memorabilia in the school's "Kobe Showcase". So whether someone planned on placing these in a showcase of their own or they already had a fit to rock with them, I hope that they're able to see the passion and soul in these customs.
