Created in partnership with Rakuten, brought together thousands of custom sneaker artists from across the US and Europe. With Rakuten’s support, the competition became one of the largest creator-driven sneaker showcases ever produced, giving emerging artists a platform on a global stage. From thousands of entries, just 100 creators were shortlisted by a world-class judging panel featuring leaders across sport, design, music, and sneaker culture. These Top 100 designs formed the Art of the Game Official Collection - a rare, curated snapshot of sneaker culture at its most innovative. The journey concluded in San Francisco, where the finalists were flown out for a filmed finale with the Judges. This finale marked a milestone moment: a celebration of creators, culture, and the evolution of custom sneakers as a legitimate art form. Now, for the first time ever, you can own a piece of this history. Each Top 100 sneaker - whether the original pair or a made-to-order version in your size - represents a creator who rose above thousands to earn their place in this landmark Rakuten x Stephen Curry series. This isn’t just a sneaker. It’s a piece of the Art of the Game legacy - and a chapter in the future of sneaker culture.
UNDER ARMOUR "RE-FORGE"
Product Details
“RE-FORGE” – When wear and tear becomes strength.
Every player knows fatigue, impacts, the weight of repetitive work. With constant effort, the body wears down, the material bears the marks;
But that's precisely where transformation begins.
With this Under Armour pair, I wanted to translate this idea:
beneath the surface, the traces of rust symbolize the past, the effort, the perseverance.
On top, the 3D overlays heal, reinforce, solidify—like a second, technological skin.
This 3D structure isn\\\'t just a visual addition: it represents resilience, the ability to rebuild through innovation and hard work.
It's the meeting of weathered materials and elevating technology.
“RE-FORGE” is the spirit of sport in its rawest form: fall, get back up, progress.
Like a player who is constantly evolving, this pair wears their scars with pride — because it is from them that performance is born.
My work;
For this custom shoe, I decided to work in several phases;
I sketched ideas, created Photoshop concepts, and gave it a lot of thought, but the shoe itself didn't inspire me much.
So, I decided to indulge myself and try to create a model I would wear with strong symbolic meaning.
I felt it was consistent with the UNDER ARMOUR brand (focused on performance) to create a structure around the shoe.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I decided to create some 3D-printed pieces to modify the shoe's shape, giving it a more "sporty," aerodynamic, and futuristic look.
I then worked extensively on these 3D-printed pieces to add to the shoe, creating an armor, a protective layer.
Therefore, I found it interesting that beneath this "3D shell" there were marks of history, so I translated this into rust... Rust endures through the years without ever breaking; its pattern is beautiful and complex.
I worked with this rust using dyes, paint, and pigments of real rust mixed with resin.
I wanted to design this competition pair with the KAH-BANE x UNDER ARMOUR collaboration logo inscribed on the inside of the left shoe.
My goal with this project was primarily to have fun, but also to explore a serious and important theme related to sport, performance, and aesthetics. A pair that stands out for its originality, technicality, and technology, which, in my opinion, aligns with the UNDER ARMOUR DNA and would therefore be a completely coherent collaboration.
Read the full story of the artwork
This product has been made by the Creator previously and is part of their amazing portfolio. The Creator has listed this item as available to remade for clients.
Additional customisation elements may be available.
Own The Art. Wear The Story.
Discover the Top 100 sneakers from the CANVVS Global Competition - designs hand-picked by our judges from thousands of entries worldwide. Each pair is created by a rising creator pushing the boundaries of art, culture and sneaker design.
By owning one, you’re not just buying a sneaker - you’re supporting emerging talent, championing creativity, and wearing a piece of global competition history.
A HISTORIC COLLABORATION
