Hand painted sneakers by Hiu

Hiu is the 21 year old painter of these much coveted Converse shoes, who’s inner world (as revealed in this interview for Sense of Fashion) is well reflected in her designs.
Where are you from?
I’m from Niterói, a city in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil.
What’s your fave ready-made object in the entire world?Darth Vader mask with voice changer, obviously.
What’s your favorite material?
For painting and drawing I like wood. For everything else I guess felt, because it’s awesome and perfect and cheap and you can do pretty much anything with it.
In your line of art – who’s your fave designer?
I used to make more Japanese inspired designs, inspired by the Kaikai Kiki Group, and I looked up to the TADO couple and Simone Legno. I still love their work of course, but now that I got a little bored of Japanese looking cuteness, I started freestyling a bit more, and I’m in love with Jon Burgerman’s work. He’s a genius.
Who are your fave architect, painter, filmmaker and musician?
Architect: Oscar Niemeyer; painter: Yoshitomo Nara; filmmaker: George Lucas (you got it, I’m a nerd); musician: Björk.
What’s your fave magazine?
Sneaker Freaker magazine and Zupi (a Brazilian street art and fashion magazine).
What have you been listening to lately?
Old stuff: Miyavi, Sufjan Stevens, The Knife, Loney, dear and Polysics – practically a top five.
Which actress / pop icon / rock star – dead or alive – would you most want to wear your art?
Kimya Dawson. And Peter Sellers, definitely.
Success in which country would be the most flattering to you?
Japan. I guess if you get big in Japan and last more than a season, you can make it anywhere.
Which 3 accessory items of yours did you wear the most this past year?Handmade biscuit pendants shaped as candy or cupcakes, fluorescent green shoelaces, colored belts.
Which 3 items in your closet did you wear the most this past year?
Skinny jeans, colorful Nike dunks and handprint sweaters.
What childhood garment made your heart brake when you got too big to wear it?
I had this black dress with REALLY bright prints of unreal-like colored animals, like neon green, red and orange giraffes and pink & yellow pandas. It was the most awesome thing ever.
What’s your favorite body part?
Eyelashes. And spine. I’m into priorities, you know.
Who’s your fave indie fashion designer?
I have a fashion designer friend I adore, Paloma Passeto, and she showed me Walter von Beirendonck’s works and it made my heart beat faster.
Who’s your fave haut couture designer?
I don’t believe in haute couture.
Where did you learn to draw?
I draw since I was a kid, and when I was about 10 I took a course, but it was meant for grown ups and was only good to destroy my childish lines. Since then I’ve been trying to get them back. I’m sure they’re stashed somewhere in my mind. I consider myself self-taught because I don’t actually use what learnt in art school. I don’t call myself an illustrator as well, since I don’t draw, I just doodle.
When did you learn to sew?
I learnt how to sew my own clothes at a community center / public library located inside an urban park in Niterói. I was 14. I’d go there after school with some friends and pay very little for the lessons. We could stay there all day cutting fabrics and creating clothing items or bags. I didn’t produce a lot of items, but I loved everything I made. I still own some of it.
I never studied fashion or fashion design, and the concepts tangled up with trends. I just learned how to make the things I wanted to wear, come out of my mind onto the sewing counter. I’m not really interested in fashion magazines, models, in’s and out’s. I don’t even like to go shopping so much – I’m used to making my own stuff so I don’t have to spend time searching. DIY, baby.

To purchase from Hiu, please write to her at hiutwig@gmail.com

Tagged as: accessories, Brazil, illustration, shoes, sneakers