MX Boots
The first pair of MJK custom MX boots came together in 2021. A very special family requested a pair and MJ was thrilled to help out. The first pair was very time consuming and involved some challenges since they are so different from sneakers and other street shoes. The first pair took over 25 hours of hand-painting. Even the stitches were painted with a tiny brush, one at a time. Every hour was well worth it when they were done.
The Process
Elevating the custom boot game is more than choosing a paint color. The most common questions asked are "what kind of paint do you use" and "how do they hold up". There are millions of DIYers out there and tons of shoe customizers and professional painters. Finding the right paint wasn't the easiest part of the equation. With over 300 pairs of custom shoes under his belt before starting his first pair of MX boots, MJ got to work on testing what would hold up best. These boots take a lot of abuse so finding the right types of paint was key. What he found was, the prep and sealing process was the most time consuming part and also the most important. There isn't a magic paint for boots, unfortunately. The tedious process is what makes it work. Offering a paint brand or type to someone asking, would only send them down the wrong path and probably ruin a set of boots. There are also a lot of chemicals and other solvents involved that make it extremely dangerous for the amateur hobbyist, without proper ventilation and safety equipment. Please make sure to consult a professional painter with lots of experience working with different materials before trying this on your own pair. As far as how they hold up...so far so good. We haven't had any issues with chipping or cracking. The paint doesn't wash off when they're pressure washed after numerous motos. The sealing and heat-setting process makes sure of that. Truth be told, the negative comments on how they would hold up is what fueled MJ to continue stretching the limits of what is possible and also extremely durable. Thank you for the comments!
How do I get a pair?
Each set of MJK custom boots are a true 1 of 1 concept. Since we are not making the boots and merely customizing them, it limits our options and capabilities. Every pair is hand painted and the colors are custom mixed for each project. A typical pair of youth boots takes around 8-15 hours of work. Adult sizes range from 18 hours and up with most taking around 22-25 hours. That amount of time invested is the biggest reason we do not offer custom boots as a retail service or for a typical weekend warrior. They are not practical, they're art on a boot. Every project we have done so far was a collaboration with the rider prior to receiving their boots. None of them were "sold" to a rider or even started without receiving their boots with at least a rough concept in mind. Most projects are planned for months in advance before they are completed. Each pair is usually worked on over the course of at least a week. Some of the boots you might see on our Instagram account were planned 3-6 months before you see them. Thats also the case with sneakers.
Who gets a pair? Every single opportunity is looked at by MJ to determine what projects and situations are a good fit for the time invested. 20+ hours on the painting and then photos, video, shipping, reveals, etc.. adds up quickly and requires the right situation to make it fit well on the calendar. THAT is the reason we can't do them for just any situation. Narrowing it down to one pair per week makes it tough to do enough of them for everyone who reaches out for a pair. That much time invested also makes it unrealistic for most as a retail purchase. So, for anyone asking "how much" for a pair, please consider the time investment as the reason we can't open up the doors for every project. It is extremely flattering and appreciated to be contacted for a pair but just not feasible to put most inquiries on the calendar.
Are they only for Pro riders? Absolutely not! MJ has done numerous kids boots and even some for weekend warriors that he felt needed a pair. He has already collaborated a few times for giveaway projects and has more planned in the near future. MJ has been known to randomly offer a custom to people he meets along the way. Typically at a track and usually people who have supported MJK and would make a great addition to the MJK family. Be sure to introduce yourself if you're a supporter. You just never know....
Industry Collaboration
If you represent an industry-related company/media outlet and want to inquire about collaboration, please use the contact form. We invite that and look forward to hearing from you.
CONTACT
Before submitting a CONTACT request, please keep in mind that MJK is not doing retail projects or offering customizing as a service. Inquiries for sales or service will not be responded to. Any other collaboration inquiries or messages are very welcome and appreciated. Thanks for reaching out and for the continued support! We look forward to what's next.