The NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign is one of the many ways that players across the league use their voice and influence for change. This year’s cleats were special due to the handful of events that have taken place all over the country from Breonna Taylor to George Floyd and many others. The unfortunate deaths and powerful protests that followed were part of a larger movement for change in this country.

Ronald Jones, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dedicated his cleats to Mothers Against Police Brutality in lieu of the events from this year as well as a story close to home.

Take a closer look at the cleats below and learn more about Jones’s inspiration behind the inspirational pair.

I wanted to bring awareness to an issue that affects Black and Brown families every day especially since it’s one that has hit my home directly. My sister’s father, Paul Monroe, was killed by police decades ago and my classmate, Darius Tarver, was killed this year. This is an issue that Black people have dealt with long before the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and it’s an issue that my Black teammates and I face when we leave the football field every day.

We cannot avoid having conversations about racial injustice and we need to always say the names of those who’ve lost their lives. This is my tribute to them.

Ronald Jones

Custom sneakers continue to tell stories that most brands can’t. The innate nature of unique storytelling with designs and multifaceted inspirations is what sets custom sneakers apart from general releases and oversaturated collaborations.

Mark Wilkins, the mastermind behind VRTIGO, is bringing the nightmares to your kicks with a custom set of VRTIGO SBs. The pairs, inspired by Chucky and Michael Myers, bring story telling to the next level with an unparalleled attention to detail.

The Chucky pairs feature distressed salvaged denim for the overalls leather and tinted suede for skin, staples for all of Chucky’s repairs throughout the years. The shoe’s color block print to represent the long sleeve shirt he wore. The inner foot has the silver kitchen knife which is his preferred weapon. 

The Michael Myers pairs feature a midnight navy stained suede for the mechanic suit that he wears, mud aged leather to symbolize the mask, and dark caramel brown accent to represent the hair of the mast. To bring it all together, there’s a silver slasher kitchen knife on the inside side of shoes.

The pairs will be available on VRTIGO’s site on November 18 starting at 9 a.m. PST. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club’s art program as a resource to give more inner-city kids a voice through the arts.

Take a detailed look at both colorways below.

Custom sneakers are the perfect avenue for artists. The sneakers automatically become a canvas that allows stories, creativity, and more to flow with ease.

Pop Fields drew inspiration from his late grandmother to create a custom Nike Air Force 1 Low that honors her and her legacy. The “Dawnies” custom is more than a tribute to his late grandmother as she lives on in the form of one of the most iconic shoes that Nike has ever created.

Take a detailed look at the pair below. Be sure to follow the artist on Instagram for a chance to get your hands on these on October 18 as pairs will be limited to just 50.

Social justice, activism, and protests have been focal points through sports, pop culture, and public discourse for decades. While this year is no different, the combination of COVID-19 along with more instances of racism (there systemic or systematic), has placed a larger emphasis on addressing the atrocities that continue to face Black Americans at a disproportionate rate.

Sneaker brands, athletes, boutiques, and many other entities within the industry are making statements and lending a hand to do their part.

Custom sneakers are using their platforms and art to bring more light to the issue. The Sneaker Journalists envisioned a custom Air Jordan 1 that combines social justice and activism through the years. From MLK to Colin Kaepernick to Ahmaud Arbery, this AJ1 is meant to be provocative above everything else.

Take a detailed look at the pair below, and be sure to follow The Sneaker Journalists on Instagram.

The Nike Air Force 1 is a classic thanks to its all-white iteration that has been a staple in sneaker culture. The white on white is also a favorite within the custom sneaker community as it serves as the perfect canvas for any creative. Jason Kovac reworked the AF1 Low by cooking up two colorways of a custom Nike Air Force 1 Low “Drew House” inspired by Justin Bieber’s fashion label.

Both custom pairs adopt the smiley face branding from Bieber’s Drew House label. In addition to that, both pairs draw inspiration from the CPFM x Nike Air Force 1 as the Uptempo lettering lands on both iterations.

Take a detailed look at both colorways below. Be sure to follow the artist on Instagram for more.

Custom sneakers continue to reach new heights. The artistic endeavour reimagines reality in every possible way as artists combine materials and storytelling in a way that brands fail to achieve.

This custom Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low x Patta is the epitome of genuine storytelling through quality. The custom sneaker embodies the reverse Swoosh ethos that took off with La Flame. However, the focal point of the custom is the upper as Patta x Jordan materials from past collaborations make its way to the shoe. The design is only a part of the story as the custom pair was specially made for Patta co-founder Edson Sabajo.

Take a detailed look at the pair below. Be sure to follow @Kraz83Kicks for more.