Cork artist Will Sliney steps up to design Converse trainers

Cork artist Will Sliney will be swapping Spider-Man for sneakers having been approached by iconic trainers brand Converse to take part in their latest marketing campaign.

Converse’s ‘Made By You’ campaign looks to celebrate the brand’s Chuck Taylor trainers, and the many ways in which its owners have customised the footwear for decades.

With this in mind, the Marvel comics artist and a host of other designers have been asked to leave their own mark on the Converse classics.

“I had done some stuff for Umbro before and I think that there’s a link between Umbro and Converse. They’re trying to recruit a few Irish artists to put their spin on a shoe and design one for them,” he said.

So, @Converse have asked me to design a shoe. Can't wait to see the finished product #MadeByYou pic.twitter.com/vgN4MHWP3M

— Will Sliney (@WillSliney) March 2, 2015

While hitting the headlines for his work with Marvel, the Ballycotton native said that he will be looking beyond his comic book background when designing his Converse.

“It’s definitely different. That’s one request that I had for them, that I didn’t want to do the regular comic book stuff. I drew something that’s a little different to that,” he said, admitting the challenge is his first foray into fashion.

“I definitely wouldn’t be known for my fashion design or taste, so it was something different. I just treated them as if they were a blank canvass and just drew on them using the shape that they are. I didn’t think about fashion styles, I wouldn’t have a clue.”

Going to be able to talk about this soon as the campaign starts tomorrow. @Converse #MadeByYou pic.twitter.com/HITIkApmcO

— Will Sliney (@WillSliney) March 1, 2015

His design has already been sent to Converse with a view to unveiling the trainers early next month.

Meanwhile Sliney is busy preparing for Cork’s first Comic Convention, to be held in Mahon Point next month, and is working on a mural for the SBG Gym used by Conor McGregor and other MMA fighters.

He previously produced murals of his all-time Irish football team and a collection of famous Corkonians, hosted on the South Mall.