All eyes will be on Anfield tonight for what’s sure to be a typically fiery Merseyside Derby, with Liverpool trying to rediscover form and Everton under new stewardship. Hoping to grab the headlines will be Darwin Nunez, and he has a special pair of custom boots for the occasion, created by artist, Jordan Dawson.
Boot customisation is one of the few options for a player to show off a bit of personality on the pitch. With signature editions reserved for a brand’s absolute elite, a bespoke custom job exists as the next best option. Someone who has carved out a niche in this field is Jordan Dawson, who has created custom boots for the likes of Declan Rice, Son Heung-Min and Marcus Rashford, as well as other work for athletes such as Usain Bolt and Anthony Joshua. His latest project has seen him creating a special pair of Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly IX for Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker, Darwin Nunez, using the 'Shadow Pack' version as the base before adding in the bespoke detailing. We spoke with the creative customiser to find out all about the process, from start to finish, as well as getting an insight into his work as a whole.
To start with, can you tell us a bit about how you got into this line of work?
I first started customising footwear for brands such as Nike, Converse and PUMA. I was then invited by EA Sports to customise adidas sneakers at their FIFA 20 Launch Party where I worked with the likes of Kaká, Ian Wright and Hudson-Odoi. My first client for football boots was Declan Rice who I approached at the event. I discussed designing a pair for him, and once delivered he shared it on his socials and it kind of snowballed from there.
How does an opportunity such as this current one for Darwin Nunez come about?
A lot of my work is now word of mouth but this pair for Darwin Nunez came about from RareBoots4U. Cam and I have spoken for a while about working together and after I designed a pair for Heung-Min Son, this opportunity with Darwin came about as he was interested in a pair for himself.
Talk us through the process of customising boots for a player from start to finish…
I will first speak to the player to ask what boot I will be working on; they will then send the pair to my studio. Once the boots have arrived, we have discussions to see what sort of design they’d like. After that has been agreed, I will then book them in for a customisation slot. On the day of customisation, the boots will be prepped and taped up ready to paint. Updates are then sent showing the painting process, so they can see their designs coming to life. After finishing the painting, the boots are then sealed to protect the artwork. Once completed, a clear photo is sent over for them to upload to their socials. The boots are then boxed back up, accompanied by branded gift wrapping and they're either hand delivered or sent to the training ground ready for the player to wear in before game day.
How much creative input do the athletes have on what you do? Are some athletes more involved than others?
It all depends on the player themselves. Some players give me a theme and leave the design for me to create, some have a design in mind already and some see some on my Instagram and ask for something similar. I create mock-ups for the players to see what their design would look like before starting on the actual boot.
Are you limited by what types of boots you can use for personalisation? Assume white works best?
White is of course preferable, but I have worked on so many different canvasses that it really doesn’t faze me what colour the base of the boot is. I have even changed the base colours of the entire boot to suit the player. I also create designs that work well with the boot colour I am given, so that there isn’t a clash of colours.
What’s been your favourite project that you’ve worked on so far?
There's been a few stand out projects I have worked on the past couple of years. Being a Chelsea fan, the first project which comes to mind is the one where I created a pair of customs for Mason Mount. The second project, working with Chelsea FC themselves. I was invited to Stamford Bridge to customise a special edition pair in celebration of Nike Air Max Day.
Who's been the best player to work with?
I have worked with some very high-profile footballers but the couple of players that really made an impression on me just because of how down to earth they were and made me feel so welcome was Declan Rice and Mason Mount. They are unbelievable lads!
How does it feel when you see these superstars wearing something that you’ve created for them? Does it give you an extra buzz if they score?
Seeing my designs on feet is just an incredible feeling. Some work I do for clients I never see again, so to be able to watch footballers play their game in my boots is a thing of dreams. 100 percent, if I see a player wearing my customs and they score in them, I get that extra fulfilment.
Roughly how long does a project like this take you?
Very hard to say as it depends on the complexity of the design but roughly three days work.
A look on your Insta account shows off a rich back catalogue of clients, but who would your dream player to work with be? Any idea what you’d do on their boots?
I think there is only one answer to this, and it must be the G.O.A.T. Lionel Messi. I would love to be able to create a limited-edition pair for when he finally hangs up his boots to celebrate all his records and achievements.
Would there ever be a player you’d turn down?
I don’t see any reason why I would turn down any player. I would happily design boots for anyone.
We’ve seen you’ve worked with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Usain Bolt in the past. Any other athletes away from football on your wish list?
I've been fortunate to have worked with these guys, but away from football I'd love to work with Lebron James or Tom Brady.
Check out more of Jordan's work here.
Shop the Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly IX at prodirectsport.com/soccer
