Halloween Costumes

Happy Halloween! Even though it's not really a holiday or something that should be celebrated, it's a good time for people to dress up like fools and get buckets of candy, ha. I remember way back when...trading trick-or-treat candy with my sisters, trying to get rid of the bad and scam them for all the good, ha, ohhhh the memories!

Stay safe this Halloween weekend, and come back for a review of costumes - good and bad!

The LeBron VI

The LeBron project is still coming together, bit by bit, idea by idea. In the meantime, the LBJ team put out this video that I found describing his latest signature shoe, The Six. When I was at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton this past August, Ken Link who you'll see in the video, was one of the designers I spent time with in the board room.

Another tie-in to LeBron and my trip to Portland in August, this 15:second spot commericial for the LeBron VI was put together by their ad agency, Wieden + Kennedy, who I also spent time with earlier that same day I went to Nike.

New Season!

I love it that the NBA season is starting again...I've been long awaiting it, and there's nothing better than turning on a game or two at night while working on things. Now the only other thing that's left is for the college games to begin!...Gotta love the game.

P.S. Keep the look for Rodney Stuckey and Derrick Rose this season

Happy Birthday Jenna!

Today is my sister's 15th birthday, and I'd like to wish her a good and happy one! Within a few years many of you will probably know her name, Jenna Way, through her volleyball and/or basketball recruiting...so keep the look out.

God bless & be easy,

- T.Way -

Video: Rip's Arm Sleeve

In an earlier post a few days ago I put up a couple pictures of Rip's arm sleeve that he wanted me to make for the 2008 NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest...well after that aired on TNT, I wanted to get the footage of it, so I called up the NBA offices and kept going back and forth with them about being able to access a copy of the contest, but they had noooo love. They said since I wasn't associated with the NBA through a sponsorship deal (basically since I wasn't giving them millions of dollars to put my logo on stuff) they weren't able to provide me with the video.

So I said forget the NBA and corporate mumble-jumple, I knew it'd surface on YouTube sometime. So I kinda forgot about it for awhile, but then somehow stumbled upon some clips of it on YouTube just now. So here it is in case you missed it or just wanted to see him wear the sleeve again. Obviously Rip definitely got robbed in it, cause EVERYONE else was steppin on the line too, but for some reason they don't have much love for Detroit or somethin...Guess we'll have to change that. *FAST-FORWARD 3-MINUTES AHEAD, AND LISTEN CLOSELY DURING RIP'S LAST RACK (ANNOUNCERS MENTION THE SLEEVE)*

LeBron, Rip, & Clothing Collabo

Yesterday was another very long day, but a very successful one at that. I started my day trip in Detroit with an early "business-lunch" with my dude Kyle from Cash.Is.King Clothing. I haven't ever said anything about this before, but I guess I kinda have to now...I'll leave you only with this: Keep the look for a collabo with Cash.Is.King x T.WayCustoms - coming soon! Ha.

From there I made it to Uncle Wes' home to pick up LeBron's sneakers that Nike sent for the project. Then I spent some time with different people in the Novi mall at Footlocker and Champs just talking shoes and answering questions, etc. My next scheduled meeting was supposed to be in Detroit at Snyx Studio with my other guy, TWheel, but we weren't able to get on the same schedule so we had to sign a raincheck on that one unfortunately. Then I needed some WiFi but couldn't find it anywhere without having to pay $9.99 for a day-pass - that's just stupid! After accidentally setting off the Emergency Alarm at a Borders, I finally found a Free WiFi spot at Panera Bread. They on my fav-five now!

Near dinner time I was ready to head to the Palace for the Pistons/Cavs game...the game itself wasn't bad, definitely better than the one in Grand Rapids last week. While I was sitting underneath the basket by the Cavs bench, Uncle Wes (if you don't know who he is, Google: "Worldwide Wes") motioned to LeBron on the bench saying somethin like "this is the sneaker guy I gotchu with..." And it caught me a bit off guard, but Bron looked over real excited, like "Kid-LeBron" from his commercials excited, haha, and so we did the "Oh, what's good man" from like 50 feet away in the middle of the game, ha. I was happy to know LBJ is excited bout this project as well.

After the game I was able to get another pair of AF1s that Rip [Hamilton] wanted me to do for him, and then had to make the long hike back to the other side of the state. Nothing like a stop at McDonald's half-way through the trip...that was prolly the only thing that kept me awake at that point. Got back around 2am and just crashed in bed until the alarm woke me up a few hours later. Another day, another adventure for a dollar. Ha.

God bless & be easy!

- T.Way -


P.S. Thanks to Adrienne for skipping her classes (which I never support - Stay In School, Kids!) and making the trip with me...she did laugh her head off & embarrass me even more when I set off the Fire Alarm, took a nap in Panera Bread while I worked, and tried taking pictures of LeBron on the bench WHILE he was trying to communicate to me, Haha. But she made the long day more bearable & didn't' let me sleep on the drive home. So thanks, hah.

New Sneakers: Hip-Hop 4 Habitat

These sneakers were created to benefit the Hip-Hop 4 Habitat charity through an auction. The entire charity project includes a free downloadable mixtape (availability TBA) with artists and producers including: 6th Sense, Frequency, Ritz ("Get Busy" - The Roots), Harry & Alex (State Property, Young Chris, Chris Brown, Lil' Wayne, The Game, etc.), as well as special-edition tees by Chaunce Clothing featuring the project's theme from the movie "KIDS."

These sneakers will be autographed by all those artists on the mixtape and will then be auctioned off with all the proceeds benefiting Hip-Hop 4 Habitat (auction date still TBD). You have to look closely to the sneaker because incorporated in this organized ciaos are the brands involved for the cause: T.WayCustoms, Chaunce Clothing, illRoots.com, Notherground Music, DJ Dub Floyd, Subconscious Threads, and Mick Boogie.

Click HERE or on the picture to view the latest T.WayCustoms work:

Wednesday: Cavs v. Pistons

I was originally scheduled to travel to Detroit today (Saturday) for meetings & to pick up shoes. Instead I took the minute to check the Pistons schedule & noticed Cleveland plays them on Wednesday for another preseason game. So I figured to switch my schedule around to spend the day Wednesday to meet with my people, pick up more shoes to do for Rip as well as the AF1s for Lebron, and thought I might as well stick around to watch them play each other while I'm in town - makes more sense. I'll keep you updated as things further progress - next step now is to bring Vitamin Water and Nike as presenting sponsors for the project...Stay posted!

God bless & be easy!

T.Way

You Have Facebook...WE Have Facebook

Facebook is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing social media sites on the web these past few years, but you already know that...T.WayCustoms started a "group" on Facebook years ago and have gotten a great fan base on there. However, since Facebook has given themselves these new FaceLifts recently, we're beginning to move from the "group" into the newer "Fan Page." Please help in the transition by clicking on the link and becoming a "Fan" of the page. Thanks frienddd! Still stay posted on the Lebron project!

God bless & be easy!

- T.Way -

NEW: Rip and Chauncey Business

Last night the Pistons played the Spurs in preseason action in their annual Meijer Classic in downtown Grand Rapids. It was a bit of a special night for me because last year at this game was when I first actually introduced them to T.WayCustoms...and it amazed me looking back on the year how much things have changed during that time. Last night Chauncey noticed me sitting behind the bench during the game and points it out whereas last year I was just another face in the crowd. I feel the need to share this because it made me appreciate everything even that much more because I've put in the nonstop work and battled my way all year long, and last night was a time of reflection. This is just a living example of what you can make happen if you put your heart 100% into something and don't accept failure, especially when everyone else thinks you won't make it. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Anyways, back to the regularly scheduled update: after the game was over I was able to catch up with Rip and Chauncey for a few minutes in the back, and updated them on about the Lebron project (which I'll update you on shortly as well!). You see, Chauncey is signed with Vitamin Water, and they are the main sponsor I'm looking at to work with for the Lebron project, so hopefully we'll be able to connect. Like I said up there, it's been a year, but yet Chauncey still hasn't decided what he wants for his (Adidas) sneakers, ha. I think I'ma have to put the heat on him soon though if he hasn't come up with something by the time I'm done with the Lebron and now this next guy's project too. On that note, Rip asked the next time I'll be on the east side of the state because he's got more sneakers he wants done-up. Sooo the Lebron's are supposed to be in this week from Nike, therefore I might make the trip east this weekend to pick all the sneakers up at once?...make sure to stay updated on everyyything cause things keep movin quickly, my friend. I'll update you on the Lebron project within the next day or two as well. But right now I've gotta prepare for this business idea-pitch competition on Thursday at Grand Valley State University. First things first!

God bless & be easy!
- T.Way -

GVSU Homecoming KING Reppin tWc, HA!

My main dude Eric "Garv" Garvelink was just crowned as the 2008 Homecoming KING for Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, MI) and he made sure to rep T.WayCustoms as his first duty with the crown. Good lookin out Garv! Hahaaa.

*CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS OR OTHER T.WAYCUSTOMS TEES!*

Video: Rip Hamilton x T.WayCustoms sneaker interview

Rip had 4 pairs of Air Forces done for himself, 1 pair for his newborn son, Rip III, and of course that arm sleeve that he wore during the 2008 NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest...so after all that work, I was able to sit with him for a few minutes after a practice. Watch below.

Video: Tayshaun Prince x T.WayCustoms sneaker interview

I thought I'd make it a little easier for some of you to watch some of the videos. Today's entry is the Tayshaun Prince x T.WayCustoms sneaker interview when I was able to sit down with him for a few minutes after a practice one day.

"Keep Battling, Alicia!"

You probably first met Alicia Jeffreys from the T.WayCustoms' Spotlight on the Detroit Pistons and Shock as the Director of Business Operations for the Shock and the Director of Brand Management for the Pistons. Unfortunately, not too long after we filmed this interview with her she had to receive serious cancer treatments in a Boston hospital - more information can be found below. Please keep Alicia and her family, friends, and co-workers in your prayers. God bless & be easy.

This article about Alicia was taken from WNBA.com:

"Alicia Jeffreys has been an integral member of the Detroit Shock's front office since 2003. Currently, she is the Director of Business Operations. In 2004, Alicia was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis. She had multiple tumors in her back and legs that caused quite a bit of pain and discomfort. Four years later, the day before her 28th birthday, the doctors found another tumor. But this time, it wasn't a normal neurofibroma. It was a malignant tumor, a chordoma, form of bone cancer. Since then, other tumors have been detected, and Alicia has been in Boston for close to two months. She has had intense radiation treatments and surgery at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Instead of enjoying the Shock's run to their third WNBA Championship in the way that Alicia has enjoyed the past two - running around like a chicken with her head cut off making sure that all goes well, the building is packed, and the team feels the energy from a raucous Detroit crowd - Alicia is watching the games on television in Boston.

At the end of Game 2, Katie Smith encouraged Alicia by shouting, "Alicia Jeffreys, if you're watching, keep battling!!"

Detroit: WNBA Champions

Congrats to the Detroit Shock and all our friends at the Pistons/Shock organization for another championship year! No people or organization deserve it more. Wish I could have made it to the final game, but family always comes first...but I'll be expecting my championship ring anyway! Hahaaa. Welcome now to: "6-Championship Drive"

Great-Grandma Norma: 102 Years Young

The night before last my great-grandma died of natural causes at the age of 102. I doubt there are many others out there that were born in 1906 and still breath O2 yet today; it's amazing how long she was around for, and we remember and honor all our memories of her. My family knows we'll see her in heaven one day because she was a faithful woman of God. But when you take a step back at look over her life-span, she literally lived through EVERYTHING: both world wars, the Great Depression, 9/11 and everything else in between. She's basically seen the inventions of automobiles, radios, televisions, and so many other things part of our everyday lives that we often take for granted. So make sure you appreciate all that you have and everyone that you have, because you don't ever know when it's someone's time...

God bless & be easy.