D+O+P+E= The Nike iD Studio

The Nike iD Studio on Elizabeth Street in NYC is the only studio in the United States that offers the public a chance to design their own exclusive pair of Nikes. THE CATCH: You have to be selected from an online lottery system, know someone who works there, or offer them your first born child! Nike.com offers customers to design sneakers also...but the studio offers exclusive sneaker styles and colors.

Note: Just to be totally fair....there is a Nike iD Studio in LA but it's not open to the public (Translation: only stars or entourage members get to partake). Other than the NYC Studio the only studio of it's kind is in Tokyo, Japan.

Sooo, this is how the story goes:

I heard about the ubber-exclusive Nike iD Studio through a co-worker and thought it would be an amazing birthday gift for The Boy (aka my boyfriend,,,aka The One....aka you get the picture). I figured I had enough juice to produce an appointment, but I truly under estimated the gravity and exculsivity of the Nike iD Studio.

I tried everything! Not only is there no number listed for the Studio....but I even called the Nike Corporate office out in Oregon and they didn't even know the number (or they just didn't think I was important enough to have that info....baaaa humbug)!

But miracles NEVER cease and while standing in the line for the Spring 2007 fashion show for Baby Phat this past September with one of Rah's super fabulous friends, I found out that one of the many wonderful things that she does (which neither Rah or I knew) is..........schedule appointments at the Nike iD Studio!!!!!

So, needless to say I booked Rah an appointment, except this time for his X-mas gift. The Studio was closed in January so we just had our appointment this past friday...the optimal word being "WE!" I was fortunate enough to make a pair too!



The Studio features a different sneaker AND color palette every few months. This way you know you'll be rocking kicks that no one else will have. During our trip they were featuring low and high-top Dunks with varsity colors ( 8 colors that make up the university varsity sport teams in the country).

As you walk into the Studio you are warmly greeted and immediately asked "Do you have an appointment?" Bascially you can't stay if you don't have a schedule. Damn!

After we made it past the gates, we were taken into the design room. The layout was more like an expensive living room in an ultra modern house, complete with three LCD monitors built into the wall...plush low-to-the-ground furniture and shag rugs...and book shelves filled with hip-hop, and urban culture books for inspiration!



There are three working stations where the creation of your sneaker takes place. After being served complimentry beverages and comfortably relaxing onto the couch, Rah and I tinkered around on the computer for about an hour. It was sooooo much fun. You can literally change the color of everything on the shoe. I felt like an urban Manolo Blahnik! We even got to personalize our sneakers ( I put "Julee" on the side of each shoe).

Take a look at a computer generated image of the product...I know, it's a little WILD but I figured this may be a once in a lifetime opprotunity so I might as well do it B-I-G!



The sneakers will arrive in 4 weeks...I can't wait! I'll put up a NEW pic once they come in!

Check out these sites to customize your own sneakers on Nike.com AND to place your name on the list to be considered for the Nike iD Studio:

*Nike Website: http://nikeid.com

*Nike iD Studio Request: http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jhtml?_requestid=21642889


Love and Light,