Student Monica’s custom kicks
ATEENAGE Valley entrepreneur who launched her own business creating custom shoes has started to attract orders from overseas.
Monica Morris, from Bacup, currently works two part-time jobs alongside studying Fashion and Textiles at Manchester College.
And in her spare time, Monica, 19, set up her business - M Customs - launching in April.
Having landed her first sale in May, the teenager is now selling her creations worldwide, with buyers wanting her custom kicks from as far away as Saudi Arabia.
Monica said: “I had seen people doing custom designs online and I am obsessed with shoes. I just love them.
“I am also quite a keen artist - when I saw it online I thought ‘If they can, I could’.”
Monica mostly wears Nikes, and has created custom Nike trainers and pool sliders. Her designs include Tom and Jerry, Toy Story, Marvel, and Pokémon.
She has also created a pair of shoes for the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as shoes with different colours and patterns.
It takes Monica around two weeks to complete a pair, working a few hours every day around college and her two jobs.
She said: “I get the shoe, then take off the finisher with acetone and then use a special leather paint. I do a sketch on paper first then draw it onto the shoe.
“I think the person from Saudi Arabia found me on Instagram - it was surreal to think i was sending shoes to the other side of the world. I think this is what I want to do as a fulltime job.
“I have previously done A Levels but I decided to change my career path so I went back to college. I will see where life takes me.”
Monica’s friends and family are very supportive of her business.
She added: “My mum thinks it’s great and good that I’m doing something that I enjoy. She’s very happy and my friends are very supportive too.”
To see Monica’s creations visit the M Customs Instagram page here.