They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. While sneakers may have been associated with a more a casual style in the past, you only need to look at the collections from top designers to know that sneakers have now become anything but low-key.

Today, you even have the opportunity to design and customize your own sneakers. Nike has been selling customized sneakers for the last 20 years with Nike By You being an integral part of the company's business in recent times. This program invites active consumer participation by encouraging customers to co-design their shoes with Nike. 

Now available both online and offline, Nike design your own shoe provides the ultimate in customization in the ever-popular sneaker world. From color schemes to names and logos, your sneakers can match with your personal specifications and design preferences.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most important things you need to know about the service. 

What can you customize?

When it comes to the range of things you can customize, Nike By You is incredibly flexible. Football lovers have the chance to make their own Magista, Hypervenom, Mercurial, or Tiempo boots. While basketball fans can choose from Hyperdunks, Kobes, LeBrons, or Air Jordan performance footwear. However, since its inception, its primary focus has always been football and basketball shoes, but now there are also plenty of tennis, baseball, and skateboarding shoes available. 

Athletes will find customizations for running and training shoes such as Flyknit Air Max, Metcon, and Air Pegasus. Some of Nike's most iconic silhouettes, such as the Air force 1, are popular for customization among sneakerheads.

Levels of customization

Nike presents you with many options for each pair of sneakers available in the range. This does vary between models, so do check that what you’re looking for is within the scope of patterns, colors, and materials available. For example, if you want to customize an Air Max 90, you choose the material and color of the upper deck and the color of the laces, midsole, mudguard, airbag, and swoosh. You can add text onto the back heel tab to replace the Nike Air logo if you wish. 

However, Nike does have the right to disapprove any text that it deems inappropriate or offensive. Swear words, racist slurs, and celebrity names are not allowed. You can only add your favorite sports team's name if Nike sponsors them. Some shoes also have fewer customizable elements, thus limiting the options you have to make them your very own creation. 

Nike By You Do’s and Don’ts

Due to the sheer number of potential customizations available, there are plenty of ways to make mistakes. Having the wrong combination of colors and materials can make your creation appear tacky. A few wise considerations can go a long in ensuring that your customization gets attention for all the right reasons! 

Color Combinations

Always ensure that you go for the timeless color combinations. If you’re not sure which colors go together, have a look at websites such as Pantone to discover color schemes that will work together and what the latest trends in color are.

You could always consider a monochrome design as that’s something that never goes out of fashion. Take inspiration from other fashion items that draw your attention but remember that less can sometimes be more. 

Consider whether this is going to be footwear to wear every day and so needs to be versatile or whether it’s only going to be worn with a specific sports outfit. That will help you think about the colors that are going to work best, especially if the sport you’re involved in has any restriction on what you can wear.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nike By You

Can you return Nike By You shoes?

Most people don’t know that Nike By You shoes, despite all the personalizations, are included in Nike’s return policy. You only need to ensure that the items are returned within 30 days of being collected. There are no extra costs incurred for customers with Nike memberships.

How long do the deliveries take?

Most Nike By You orders are delivered within three to six weeks, although the period may vary depending on the style. For confirmation, take a look at the expected delivery date shown on each of the Nike By You product pages. 

Don’t forget that at certain times of the year, there can be a huge surge in demand. So, if you’re looking to order customized sneakers just before Christmas, then you’re probably going to have a longer delivery date!

What are the grounds to reject a custom message?

Your Personal ID will not be allowed if it has trademark rights violations or contains profanity. Also, inappropriate slang, discriminatory content, insults, and phrases meant to incite violence are all valid reasons for rejection. 

Are there alternatives to Nike By You?

Besides Nike By You, there are other services on which you can create custom sneakers. The following are some of the most well-known.

YourReebok – although its range of customizable shapes to choose from is limited, your creative designs are not limited at all. Creation and delivery of orders usually take between 3 and 5 weeks.

MYSWEAR – despite being a bit costly, it is a unique program in terms of aesthetics. Fashion insiders like Nick Wooster highly recommend them. If you love to let your footwear do the talking for you, then this is the perfect platform. 

Alive shoes – apart from designing the shoe and its packaging on this platform, you can also then buy it in bulk to resell your design. This means that you have the opportunity to be creative and rake in profits all at the same time.

Nike By You gives you the chance to stand out from the crowd by allowing you to produce unique personal designs. Their incredible user interface and customer services are second to none, so it’s no surprise that they generate such strong brand loyalty.