Inked Kicks was started in Santa Barbara, California in 2008 by Los Angeles native, Karoleen Decastro, shortly after she graduated from UCSB’s Art program. Her love for longboarding and the small college beach town’s fondness for skate-friendly canvas shoes helped spark this new project that explores the intersection of art and fashion.
With skills in portraiture and complex details, Karoleen creates one of a kind pairs around the topics that have brought her customers joy and shaped their identities, interests and personalities. Customers are not only buying new shoes she paints, but investing in art they can wear. For the last decade, Karoleen has taken Inked Kicks from the beaches of California to NYC’s busy streets where she works as an artist and designer, and continues to paint shoes as gifts, for events, and individual art collections.
To make a custom request, fill out the Inked Kicks Custom Order Form. Also, be on the lookout for a new Etsy shop coming soon.