Ripp is a 24-year old designer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina who has mixed his support for Barack Obama with his customizing skills on this pair of Air Force One Highs. Ripp took three weeks to create his Barack Obama Air Force Ones and his round-the-clock efforts show. You can reach Ripp by email at rippgetem22@yahoo.com if you want to get your own Obama customs.
The designer mixed images of Barack Obama with patriotic themes and campaign slogans to promote the Illinois senator’s candidacy. He used acrylic leather paint on the panels and fabric paint on the sole with a red/white/blue colorway that is appropriate for this election season. Ripp made each shoe independent without sacrificing quality and the unified pro-Obama theme.
The left shoe has USA on the heel, Change on the inside and Obama on the tongue. The right shoe has God Bless America on the heel, Progress on the inside and Barack on the tongue. Both shoes are tied together with simple images of Senator Obama looking out at the viewer from the tongues, making the same connection he has made with millions of Americans.
Ripp saved a little jab at Senator John McCain for the bottom of the shoe with images of the Republican candidate ready to be stepped on. The designer has priced these size 7 1/2 Air Force Ones at $400. We will be hearing more from Ripp in the future but his Barack Obama Air Force Ones show that the custom sneaker world seems to be on board with the Illinois senator’s campaign for change.
