Du spraypaint , Bike Shoes Art, this southerner is the king of graffiti on cycling shoes. Vincent Carbonnet has been transforming shoes into real works of art since 2018… We went to meet him!

By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: DR

Du spraypaint , Bike Shoes Art, there is only one step. Vincent Carbonnet, took it in 2018 after suffering a stroke. The day he also said to himself: " We only have one life and that's why we have to try everything "And from that moment on, in addition to his job as the owner of three gyms in the South-West that he managed remotely from the Antibes area, this former BAC police officer began to indulge in an additional passion that he had left in its shell since adolescence: He designs on the shoes of the cyclists who trust him, and personalizes their competition shoes. And after having sold two of his three sports complexes of the famous Orange Bleu franchise after Covid, this now co-manager with his wife of an independent club, today makes several dozen pairs of shoes per month, after his working hours or when he has time left.

A very fashionable practice in hip-hop and pop art culture. But very new in the field of cycling.

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Vincent has always loved drawing and painting since he was a teenager and then gradually, he who had already graffitied on large anti-attack concrete blocks, took up this technique from spraypaint to express themselves on a very specific format, shoes. And more precisely, cycling shoes. I like to transcribe what I want on a pair of cycling shoes, it makes it completely unique. " The creator adds: "II am from the generation that grew up with the evolution of sneakers. " He then presented me with a creation on a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths on the theme of Cold Play. An almost surgical work that requires a lot of technique and patience, and absolutely formidable.

Vincent's first creations were very much linked to Disney characters. Unique shoes, therefore in high demand. And finally, the very tedious efforts of his work pay off. Indeed, Vincent sometimes spends several hours on a simple pattern but a pair of shoes with a more complicated request, like that of the European champion of disabled cycling Christelle Ribault can take him several days.

« I can't make a mistake, I anticipate how I'm going to go about this or that drawing, but nothing scares me. " This is particularly the case of this fully customized pair in the project Wonder Woman commissioned by Christelle Ribault. Some drawings take a whole day to complete. But the pair of shoes that left the biggest impression on us were Fizik shoes. In fact, over the weekend French Artist, Vincent offered this unique customization at €120 (excluding the price of the shoes). And visibly, as Vincent had managed to customize 10 of them in the same way, many customers rushed to place orders, to proudly display this designer edition See you soon, baby on one side and I'll be back for the cake the other.

Once finished, his work transforms cycling shoes into true works of art.

Model prices vary depending on the choice of design. On his Ins accounttagAries, for ready-made products, the cost is on average €100 to €150. But each person is free to order their own design, to have even more personalized shoes. Vincent makes pairs of shoes for all tastes and ages.

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But how does the artist achieve these results? Beyond absolutely extraordinary creativity, the designer uses sophisticated design material that guarantees durability that has itself proven itself despite all weather conditions. The varnish that finishes the work protects the drawing in a spectacular way. And once finished, his work allows to transform cycling shoes into real works of art. And if other artists also offer this type of product, this is the first time that we encounter this in the field of cycling.

This artist, who also plans to open a shop in Antibes, thus creates, as we told you, dozens of pairs of shoes per month. A fashionable practice, which first appeared in the United States. But on shoes Street Style. Indeed, having customized sneakers is very sought after by many audiences, because it probably gives the feeling of being unique, to reflect its personality. Even stars like Chris Martin have them, but in cycling it's new and unprecedented. Vincent is almost a precursor. And let's expect it to invade the pelotons... Especially since a certain Wout van Aert succumbed to the trend...

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