HARDWORKUP is an upcycling label led by fashion designer and artist Jisun Kim, specializing in stage footwear for K-pop celebrities. The label has created custom shoes for BTS's ARIRANG World Tour, NCT WISH, MEOVV, RIIZE, aespa, and Tyla.
The signature of HARDWORKUP lies in its bold, deconstructive technique. The label dismantles and reconstructs existing branded shoes and bags into entirely new forms. The finished pieces are both footwear and wearable sculpture. Jin's snake-patterned custom shoes in the first slide exemplify this approach.
The second slide shows another custom piece by HARDWORKUP. A black-based high-top shoe is covered with metal studs and spikes across its entire surface. The third slide features a repurposed Air Jordan 1 custom boot made for RIIZE. The red-and-white colorway Jordan has been reconstructed into boot form.
The fourth slide presents a Victory Wing Air Jordan 1 custom created for NCT WISH. White-based Air Force 1 silhouette is augmented with wing embellishments. HARDWORKUP deconstructs and reassembles existing sneakers from Nike and Jordan, transforming them into stage-ready art pieces.
Moving beyond upcycling into sculpture, their work creates a new visual language on the K-pop stage. Which artist's custom shoes impressed you most?
The signature of HARDWORKUP lies in its bold, deconstructive technique. The label dismantles and reconstructs existing branded shoes and bags into entirely new forms. The finished pieces are both footwear and wearable sculpture. Jin's snake-patterned custom shoes in the first slide exemplify this approach.
The second slide shows another custom piece by HARDWORKUP. A black-based high-top shoe is covered with metal studs and spikes across its entire surface. The third slide features a repurposed Air Jordan 1 custom boot made for RIIZE. The red-and-white colorway Jordan has been reconstructed into boot form.
The fourth slide presents a Victory Wing Air Jordan 1 custom created for NCT WISH. White-based Air Force 1 silhouette is augmented with wing embellishments. HARDWORKUP deconstructs and reassembles existing sneakers from Nike and Jordan, transforming them into stage-ready art pieces.
Moving beyond upcycling into sculpture, their work creates a new visual language on the K-pop stage. Which artist's custom shoes impressed you most?
FAQ
What brand are the shoes worn by BTS's Jin?
The shoes worn by Jin are custom-made by HARDWORKUP, an upcycling label led by fashion designer Kim Ji-soon. They feature a vampy pattern and were created for BTS's Arirang World Tour.
How does HARDWORKUP make their shoes?
HARDWORKUP uses deconstructivist upcycling techniques, disassembling existing brand shoes and bags like Nike and Jordan, then reconstructing them into entirely new wearable sculptural pieces. They're completed as stage-exclusive art pieces.
Which K-pop artists has HARDWORKUP worked with?
HARDWORKUP has created stage shoes for various K-pop artists including BTS, NCT WISH, Miayo, RIIZE, aespa, and Tayla. Notable pieces include BTS's Arirang World Tour shoes and custom Air Jordan 1 boots for RIIZE.
