✨ The Story Behind WALK101

KixKote didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a phone call.

Walker was 9 years old, obsessed with Stephen Curry. His parents, Brandon and Ashley, knew I’d been working in the leather paint and dye business for over 15 years. They asked if I could make Walker a pair of Curry-inspired customs.

They handed me a pair of all-white Nike Court Visions in size 3.5Y. Walker and I talked through the colors he wanted, and we had our plan. There was only one catch: I had never painted shoes before.

The first attempt was… humbling. I thought I’d try stenciling Curry’s logo on with ink (don’t ask me why). I wasn’t worried — I knew the opaque paint would cover it. It covers everything. But pro tip: acetone and ink don’t mix well on sneakers. That pair was ruined, and I had to buy another set to start over.

Round two went better. No stencils, no shortcuts — just thick paint, shaky hands, and a lot of patience. By the end, I had spent more than 30 hours painting that little pair of shoes. They weren’t perfect — far from it — but they were Walker’s. And when he laced them up, I knew this was bigger than just a favor for a friend.

That moment lit a spark. Since then, I’ve gone from painting car seats to sneakers, from shaky brushes to Cricuts and airbrushes, from trial-and-error to a product built specifically for this craft. But no matter how far KixKote goes, Walker will always be at the heart of it.

The WALK101 Series is our tribute to him — and to everyone who wants to take their sneakers from basic to unforgettable. 101 colors, endless ways to flex, and the same spirit that started it all: the belief that with the right paint and a little imagination, you can make something truly your own.

WALK101 – Inspired by Walker. Made for every step.