How to Customize Your Converse Shoes

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Gems

2 Embroidery

3 Spray paint and stencils

4 Fabric

5 Paint pens and permanent markers

6 Sponge and paint

7 Bleach

8 Splatter paint

9 Studs

10 Tie dye

11 Glitter

12 Shoelaces

13 Hydro dipping

14 Embroidery

15 Custom order

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Co-authored by Neepa Sikdar and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 23, 2024 References

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--Want to give your Converse shoes a personal touch? Converse are already super stylish, but you can add your own unique flair to them with some glitter, paint, fabric, thread, and more! If you’re feeling crafty, keep reading because we’ve got the hottest ways you can customize your Converse shoes. Whether you’re working with high tops or low tops, your DIY shoes are sure to make a statement and show off your artistic skills.

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1

Gems

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1. Bedazzle your Converse shoes using jewels and glue. Who doesn’t like extra sparkle? Cover your entire shoe in rhinestones or just the toe by drawing a line of E6000 glue on the shoe and sticking a gem to the rubber or fabric. Start at the shoe's middle and work your way out for a clean, even design.

   • Place your rhinestones and gems on the shoe using your fingers or tweezers.
   • Mix and match jewel sizes and colors to make a design that’s uniquely your own.
   • You can also add the glue to the back of the gem if that’s easier for you.
   • E6000 glue has a strong and durable hold that's ideal for decorating Converse shoes.
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2

Embroidery

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1. You can embroider on your converse shoes with some basic materials and give your shoes a unique and vintage flair, as well as show off some new skills!

   • Draw an outline of what you want to embroider onto your shoe.
   • Thread the embroidery needle with the thread or yarn of your choice and continue stitching onto your drawing, poking the needle in and out as you go.
   • Try researching on different types of stitches.
   • Tie off all loose ends and iron the embroidery on low heat to flatten it out.

3

Spray paint and stencils

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1. Give your shoes an artistic edge with some spray paint. Tape a stencil with a design you like to the fabric of your Converse. Next, use spray paint to apply a light coat of paint over the design. Peel off the stencil and let the paint dry before showing off your new kicks.

   • Make stencils at home by printing out a simple black image, like a heart or star, and cutting out the inside of the shape.
   • Try using orange and yellow spray paint to create a shooting star.
   • If you have an airbrush, use that instead of spray paint for a smoother finish.
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4

Fabric

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1. Add a fabric accent to the tongue of your Converse. Remove the laces, and cut a piece of fabric that’s slightly larger than the size of the shoe’s tongue. Cover the tongue with E6000 glue. Fold the edge of the fabric, and place it as close to the toe as possible, pressing down on the glue to hold it in place. Press the rest of the fabric flat against the tongue, smoothing out any wrinkles. Fold and glue the edges of the fabric to the back of the tongue to secure.

   • Try to avoid getting glue on the rubber parts of your shoe as it can be hard to get off when dry.
   • Relace your shoes once they’ve dried for about 10 to 15 minutes.
   • Pick a fabric pattern that pairs well with the color of your converse.
   • For example, red shoes and leopard print fabric are a fabulous pairing.

5

Paint pens and permanent markers

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1. Doodle on your Converse to let your creativity shine. Paint pens and permanent markers are easy to come by and let you put even the smallest details to the rubber or fabric of your shoes. Simply wash the shoes for a clean canvas and get drawing! Here are some of our favorite design ideas:

   • Cartoon: Outline the border and details of white Converse with a black permanent marker
   • Doodle Freehand: Use your favorite colors to draw whatever you’d like on white Converse (think of it like doodling on a notepad)
   • Rainbow Spirals: Create a whimsical vine-like pattern in a rainbow gradient on white Converse
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6

Sponge and paint

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1. Create a galaxy effect on your Converse using paint and a sponge. Cover the areas of the shoe you don’t want painted with masking tape and remove the laces. Use a sponge to paint a galaxy on the side of your shoe: starting with the darkest color, layering with the next lightest color, and dabbing white in the middle. Add stars with a thin paintbrush or toothpick and white paint.

   • Try using a dry sponge when blending, so the colors mix evenly.
   • Splattering white paint over the galaxy can add a sporadic and random amount of stars to your design.
   • Use purples, blues, and pinks when creating your galaxy for a classic look, or go wild and use all colors of the rainbow.
   • This customization works best with high-top Converse as you’ll be able to see the mesmerizing galaxy design better.

7

Bleach

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1. Give your Converse a distressed look by spraying them with bleach. Remove the laces from the shoes. Use a bleach cleaning spray to drip and mist bleach all over the shoe. Let the shoes sit for at least 15 to 30 minutes.

   • The larger the drip, the larger the bleach stain.
   • Be careful when using bleach as it can stain anything it touches.
   • Bleaching Converse works best on black fabric but can add a unique effect to any color except white.
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8

Splatter paint

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1. Bring some color to white-colored Converse by flicking paint on them. Use masking or painter’s tape to cover the rubber border, toe, and anywhere else you don’t want painted. Fill the shoe with crumpled-up newspaper to help it keep its shape. Dip a paintbrush in a little bit of water and then paint. Flick or tap the brush over the shoe to get an amazing splatter effect. Wait for the paint to dry, peel off the tape, and coat with a sealing spray.

   • Do this DIY project outside or on a newspaper-covered surface as it can get messy.
   • Remove the laces before you start if you don’t want the laces to get splattered with paint.
   • Splatter-paint with one color or multiple colors—the possibilities are truly endless.
   • Have darker colored Converse? Try splattering them with neon or glow-in-the-dark paints.

9

Studs

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1. Add a punk-rock edge to your Converse with metallic details. Unlace your shoes and locate the hard backing on the shoe. Punch a stud through the shoe’s fabric, avoiding the hard backing. Use a butter knife to push down the backings of the stud, securing it in place. Repeat until you’ve made your desired pattern.

   • The hard backing is usually towards the heel near the brim of the shoe.
   • Studs come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, so choose the stud you like the most!
   • Try laying your pattern out on the table or floor before attaching the studs to get an idea of what it will look like.
   • Spikes work similarly to studs but with a screw on backing.
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10

Tie dye

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1. Give your Converse a groovy vibe using tie dye. Remove the laces and soak the shoes in a prewash solution following the instructions on your prewash label. After the shoes have mostly dried, squeeze dye on the shoe’s fabric wherever you’d like. Let the dye dry for at least 72 hours and then soak the shoes in a tub of room temperature water. Keep soaking until no dye seeps into the water.

   • Clip down the tongue with a binder clip or clothespin to keep it out of the way while you work.
   • Use a wet rag to wipe off any dye that gets on the rubber parts of the shoe.
   • Have fun with colors! Go for a rainbow effect or a tri-colored tie-dye effect.
   • Make sure your Converse are cotton canvas, as other materials won’t soak in the dye.

11

Glitter

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1. Glue glitter on your Converse for a gorgeous sparkly look. Remove the laces and tape around the sides of your shoe, including the toe. Mix your desired glitter with gloss finish Mod Podge at a 1:2 ratio. Paint the shoe's fabric with 3 to 4 coats—the more coats, the more sparkly the shoe will be.

   • Peel off the tape once the glitter glue is completely dry and relace your shoes.
   • Don’t worry about taping over the eyelets. If you get glitter glue on them, simply wipe it off with a rag or finger.
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12

Shoelaces

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1. Swap out the shoelaces of your Converse for a quick customized look. Try switching out your shoe’s laces for something bright and colorful that’ll pop against the shoe’s color. You can also try different lace materials like ribbon, lace, or satin.

   • Change out your laces whenever you’d like!
   • If you’re wearing a new outfit, swap the laces to match.
   • For example, if you’re wearing a pink dress, opt for a classic high top Chuck Taylor with pink ribbon laces.

13

Hydro dipping

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1. Create a fluid pattern by dunking Converse in spray-painted water. Prepare your shoes by removing the laces and taping up the soles. Fill a large bucket with water and spray the water with spray paint. Carefully dip the shoe into the water, submerging it all the way, and then lift it back up. Peel off the tape and finish your design with a waterproof spray.

   • Hydro dipping works best on white or cream colored shoes.
   • Spray different colors of paint over the water in multiple locations to create a marbled pattern.
   • Use monochromatic colors for an ombre-like marble, or use complementary colors for a bolder design.
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14

Embroidery

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1. Detail your Converse shoes with some needle and thread. Embroidering your shoes is very similar to embroidering a shirt or any other material. Sketch out your design on the shoe with a pencil first. Then, start embroidering! The canvas fabric may be tougher to push through, so don’t be afraid to tug a little harder than you would when embroidering on thin fabric. Consider adding these embroidered details to your shoes:

   • Flowers and vines
   • Planets and stars
   • Ghosts or skulls
   • Roses and petals

15

Custom order

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1. Buy designed-to-order Converse shoes online. If you don’t fancy any of the Converse shoes in store or don’t want to do a DIY project, ordering online is a great alternative. The Converse website lets you create your own unique shoes at a slightly higher price. Simply pick your Converse shoe style (Chuck Taylor High Top, One Star Suede, etc.), and select your color, laces, stitching, and design. There’s even an option to add a personal ID.
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Tips

• Lay down newspapers, magazines, or tarp before customizing your shoes. DIY projects can get messy, so it’s always best to protect your work space. Plus, it makes for a quicker clean up.
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