01 — Internship — branding, content & operations — 2026Vijz
Every pair needs a story.
Vijz builds one-off custom sneakers. Every pair is a story someone commissioned. My job was to help get those stories out of the atelier: as content, as packaging, and as whatever else the day needed.
The setup
Every pair needs their story told.
1 The content
Tony Chocolonely
Concept
Gentleman
Sjakie
Release
Release
Program
Bespoke
Peacock
Bespoke
2 In the atelier
Day-to-day operations, workshops & atelier support
A small studio means everyone does everything. I helped run customisation workshops, prepped pairs, and did whatever the customs or releases needed that week. It is the part of the job that normally never ends up in a portfolio, and the part that taught me most about how a small brand and business actually runs.
3 The packaging
A personal project to improve the releases storytelling
Vijz already had a house style. The sleeve doesn't replace it, it adds one layer on top of it and is made specifically for that release alone. Kintsugi repairs a break with gold, which is what a custom does to a shoe. The box finishes the story the pair starts, and the brand underneath stays exactly where it was.
The idea
Mock-up of boxsleeve
boxsleeve Sjakie-release
boxsleeve kintsugi-release
boxsleeve jungle book-releaseEvery pair already had a story, before it just stayed in the atelier. Content took it out; the sleeve carried it into the box. Neither replaces the house style; each release just got one extra layer that belongs to that pair alone.