Hailing from Russia, 23-year-old Alexander Osipov aka @canyaon is a upcycle designer who customises sneakers, breathing new life into them in the process and reinventing them. Encompassing unconventional materials to create unique tooling, Alexander’s designs and online presence have gone viral on social media, to no surprise.

Changing the custom game by experimenting with new ideas, some of Alexander’s customs include the Salomon XT that’s coated in moss uppers, a pomegranate Nike TN, and a Converse backpack that has been transformed into a boot, with New Balance’s 801’s rugged ABZORB midsole laying the groundwork. Stellar.  

Let’s get to know Alexander Osipov as we talk to him about how he got started, the inspiration behind his concepts and more.

When did you first start customising? 

“About a year ago I wanted to buy a pair of sneakers, but I found that there were no interesting designs in stores. I thought I could create sneakers with my own unique design and vision. And then, I did! I bought a Nike windbreaker at a thrift store, I pulled it over an old sneaker, zipped it up and laced it. And that was my first work, which immediately got a lot of hits on TikTok. I was inspired by it!”

What’s the sneaker community like in your home town?

“The sneaker community doesn’t really exist in my city – I’m from a small town, so there are few people interested in the sneaker game. But in general, in Russia, the sneaker society exists, and it’s quite large, with a lot of different creators and sneakerheads.”

What was the first shoe you couldn’t wait to custom?

“I remember a light bulb moment where I thought I came up with a great idea – “Injection sneakers”. I began to make them as soon as possible because when an idea gets into my head, it sticks in there. They were probably the first sneakers I wanted to create.”

Where does your inspiration come from?

“I’m very observant. As Sherlock Holmes said, “You see, but you do not observe”. Inspiration can come from anywhere, absolutely everything around you! For me, it’s very often music and movies. I wouldn’t do any of my work if I didn’t have some cool track playing in my ears.”

Has your customising style changed over time?

“Regarding style, I don’t think it has changed at all. Only the materials and the colours and shapes may have changed. Now I like to make design concepts rather than real pairs because by changing the design of sneakers in Photoshop, I have much more freedom to create!”

Is there a particular model or brand you love to customise?

“Most of all I like to create concepts and customizations with Nike. The label’s logo is very creative-friendly.”

What’s the next pair you’ve got your eyes on to revamp?

“I am planning to make a custom vintage pair from Nike, I really like working with vintage pairs. Designs from the ’90s and 2000s, are great! I want brands to start releasing these out of the archives more often and make them again.”

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