We spoke to sneaker archivist @sneakerdenn ahead of the KidSuper x BAPE World Cup-inspired collection. Dropping a total of 48 pairs, each shoe represents one of the participating nations.
We got a moment to chop it up with Dennis, a pillar within the UK sneaker community, asking how he ended up designing six of the BAPESTAs, what he wants people to take away from the pack and who he wants to see rocking his designs. From designing Nike By You colourways, to asking the important questions, it’s good to see a fellow sneakerhead get a chance to get the design opportunity he has worked so hard for.
How did you end up working with KidSuper and BAPE?
The whole thing happened incredibly quickly and completely randomly.
At the end of last year, Bimma Williams was putting together his Collaboration of the Year video and asked me to contribute a short section talking about the previous KidSuper BAPESTA release. After it went live, I shared it on my Instagram Story and tagged KidSuper. There wasn't some grand strategy behind it. I was really just pinging him.
One Instagram Story, one tag and six months later here we are.
@sneakerdenn with the "Japan" KidSuper x BAPE
He replied, we started chatting and eventually he sent me some early mockups from a World Cup project he was working on. The second I saw them, I thought: 'Okay, this is my chance.'
He wasn't asking me for alternative designs, but I saw an opening. I went away, created a dozen alternative colourways and sent them back. He loved them.
Eventually I ended up designing all 48 colourways, just to give myself the best possible chance. Six of them made it into production.
The craziest thing is that if Bimma hadn't asked me to contribute to that video, none of this would've happened. One request, one Instagram Story, one tag and six months later here we are.
What was the hardest part of the design process?
via @bape_us
The hardest part was colour balance. The colours themselves are obvious because they're tied to national teams, but where you place those colours changes everything.
Colour balance is the key.
Take the France pair. The easy option would've been a white toe box because that's a familiar colour blocking choice. But to me, France is a blue dominant team. The white should play a supporting role. So it became about finding the right balance between the primary and secondary colours.
That's really the challenge. It's not choosing the colours. It's deciding how much of each colour to use and exactly where it should sit on the shoe.
What was it like working on a silhouette like the BAPESTA?
Man, I couldn't have dreamt of a better or more exciting silhouette to start with.
The BAPESTA is so iconic because of its bold colourways and how much fun you can have with it creatively. Obviously sneakerheads know about the comparisons to a particular shoe, one that is probably my favourite sneaker of all time, but the BAPESTA has that extra edge where you can really go crazy with it.
The BAPESTA has that extra edge where you can really go crazy with it.
The panel construction is so timeless, it's the perfect canvas. It's simple enough to work with, but it also allows you to push things quite far. For me it was definitely an honour to contribute to the legacy of such a timeless silhouette.
Which French player would you most like to see wearing your pair?
Definitely Jules Koundé. We've had a really good relationship for years and he's a huge fashion guy and a real sneakerhead.
Before he signed with adidas, he used to buy a lot of Air Force 1s from me. When we were discussing who should represent each country, Jules was actually the obvious choice for France. Unfortunately his adidas contract meant he wouldn't have been able to post the shoes publicly.
He's the ultimate fashion guy. He's a real sneakerhead.
Hopefully he still gets a pair because he's genuinely passionate about sneakers. He collects seriously as well. He's someone I'd love to see wearing the France colourway.
What was it like working with your brother Leo?
I love this question because it's a really important part of the story that most people probably won't know.
I've been working with my brother for the last few years while he's been studying graphic design. It's not always easy working with family, but it's been amazing seeing his work go from something on a laptop screen to something that's now all over sneaker media.
Stuff that was on his screen six months ago is now all over Sneakergram.
One of my favourite moments came with the Korea colourway. When Leo first saw it, he told me it was his favourite design and that he hoped it would get made. When Colm eventually sent through the final selection and that pair was included, it felt incredibly special.
The coolest thing is seeing him realise that something he worked on six months ago is now being shared all over Instagram. That's a pretty crazy feeling.
via @sneakerdenn
via @sneakerdenn with South Korea KidSuper x BAPE colourway
via @sneakerdenn
via @sneakerdenn
Did you manage to make a pair for Melo?
Unfortunately not. I don't even know if BAPE produces toddler sizes, but its sizing is already pretty limited. They don't even go above a US 13, which I've always felt bad about because I'm right on that limit myself.
I might just put a few pairs on ice until he's old enough to wear them.
It would've been amazing to have a pair made for Melo. For now, I might just pick up a few pairs and keep them on ice until he's old enough to wear them. We'll see.
Is this the first of many? What's next?
Definitely the first of many, I hope.
I've posted concepts for years, whether that's Air Force 1s, Jordans or other silhouettes that mean something to me.
This project is hopefully just the beginning. I have big dreams and I'd love to keep building from here.
The goal was never necessarily to see those exact concepts made. The goal has always been to work on the models that shaped my journey into sneakers and that have a connection to my personal story.
This project is hopefully just the beginning. I have big dreams and I'd love to keep building from here.
What do you want people to take away from your first sneaker design?
I really tried to go for that recognisable classic look that's timeless.
I think from a design perspective, I really tried to be as accurate as possible to the traditional colour balance of each national team kit. Obviously kits change all the time and every year there are little colour variations, but I wanted to focus on the recognisable, classic versions that people immediately associate with those countries.
That was really my objective throughout the process. I wanted each pair to feel timeless. I tried to stay true to those traditional colours and translate the kits into a colour blocked sneaker design. If somebody looks at one of the pairs and instantly recognises the country it represents, then I've done my job.
To check out all 48 colourways from the KidSuper x BAPE World Cup collection head on over to the bape.com.
via @sneakerdenn
via @sneakerdenn
