In the arena of timeless sneakers that every rotation should include, the Reebok Club C looms large. This staple can be traced back to 1985, offering up one of the most understated finishes in the modern sneaker landscape. Originally it was designed as a tennis shoe, but it quickly rose to prominence as a lifestyle option thanks to its versatility. It’s this understated versatility that makes it such a great base for customization, too. Just ask Maxplore and Zalando Plus.
You might have seen Maxplore’s designs on his Instagram. Nowadays, he broadcasts his custom designs to a following of 183,000, but it all started with a pack of Sharpies and some free time to kill. “I started customizing when I moved to Berlin. Before my university classes started, I had some time to kill. So I thought, why not do something I haven’t done yet but always wanted to do? I grabbed a pair of my old shoes, drew on them with some Sharpies, and the rest is history.”
While his designs have come a long way since then, they still usually rely on everyday tools. Take his fan-favorite coffee dyes. Dipping brand-new kicks into bowls of coffee, Maxplore discovered, gives them a unique and retro-tinged finish. “I really like the look the coffee dye adds to a sneaker,” he notes. “The sneaker isn’t bright white anymore, it already looks broken into. So there’s no need to worry about the first creases when wearing them." But there's another major positive to the customization process, too. "I use coffee for the dyeing process because I really like the effect it has on shoes. It’s also one of the most widespread household items for the customization so you don’t have to purchase expensive dyes to try it yourself."
Try it yourself, you say? Yeah, that's right. We managed to get a few more tips from Maxplore, too: "Before any customization, I recommend preparing the shoes by using acetone. Put some acetone on a cotton pad or an old piece of clothing and wipe over the part of the shoes you want to customize. Acetone removes the factory finish that works like a protection coat. Once the customization is finished, a protection coat can be applied again." And when dyeing with coffee, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the water: "For the best possible result, I recommend using hot water. Make sure the water is hot but not boiling, as boiling water could potentially damage the shoes. Hot water allows the shoes to pick up the color more intensely than cold water."
Maxplore tells us that there are two final things to consider. Firstly, find a design that lends itself to customization. There's nothing worse than putting the effort in and realizing at the end that it wasn't worth it. Secondly, and most importantly, that the whole process — from preparation to dyeing, washing, color sealing, air drying, engraving, lacing, and finishing — takes between four and five hours. Safe to say that you're better off just letting Maxplore do the customization and entering to win a pair instead...
A prime example of a design that lends itself to a coffee dye? The Reebok Club C. That’s why Zalando Plus has tasked Maxplore with customizing 50 exclusive pairs of Reebok Club Cs, which will be available to Zalando Plus members from October 27.
For Maxplore, this project instantly slotted into place. “The Reebok Club C 85 has been in my sneaker rotation for the past six years. I'm a big fan of its silhouette and its comfort. They also look great with every outfit, so I couldn’t think of a better Reebok Sneaker to go with.”
The Reebok Club C 85 and its natural premium leather uppers were the ideal starting point and have only grown in stature through the collaboration. Not only are the limited-edition pairs give a coffee-dye treatment, but they also come with two additional laces in beige and pink to offset the tinted uppers as well as exclusive packaging.
Be sure to sign up to Zalando Plus here to be in with a chance of copping your pair of Reebok Club C 85s as well as hundreds of other exclusive releases.
