Detroit. The Motor City.
Cleveland. The Land.
Two of the midwest’s most iconic and storied cities with their own unique histories tied together by a common thread, Dan Gilbert. To tell the tale of these two cities in one pair of sneakers, we brought in two of the best sneaker customizers in the world. Each took one shoe from a pair of LeBron James’ first signature sneaker, the Nike Air Zoom Generation.
Dan Gilbert is from Detroit and he’s taken the challenge of bringing his hometown back to life by bringing is businesses back to the place where it all started. To take on the Detroit themed sneaker, El Cappy, a Detroit native himself, took the map of downtown Detroit– where Gilbert has relocated his companies in an effort to bring the city back to life– and used his handy work to showcase the excitement that has revived The D. Cap’s detailed paint work and attention to the intricate details of the city’s rejuvenated footprint, including logos for the companies Quicken, Fathead, Bedrock and StockX whom now calldowntown Detroit home. On the heel reads, “Like Stocks and Bonds We Trade Jordans and LeBrons,” which sounds like an appropriate mission statement for us here at StockX.
As owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gilbert’s commitment to bringing a championship to his second home, “The Land,” is top priority. Naturally, a pair of LeBrons were in order but JBF Customs– a native of Cleveland –took things to another level. JBF reworked the Nike AZG with materials from authentic NBA basketballs and Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys. Poignantly tying in the quest to bring an NBA Championship to Cleveland with a set of laces made from actual gold. The perfect representation of a city, team and owner, ready to bring home a ring.
The result of the work from El Cappy and JBF Customs is the Dan Gilbert Nike Air Zoom Generation customs that bring together Detroit and Cleveland in one pair of shoes. The guiding words for each of Gilbert’s companies, known as ISMs, can be found on the insoles of each shoe with the StockX logo being the common bond between these otherwise completely unique and customized sneakers.
Two cities. One common thread. Now tied together in this pair of Nike Air Zoom Generations for Dan Gilbert.
For many more images of these amazing shoes, check out Modern Notoriety’s photo essay.
