Introduction

In this Creator Spotlight, we’re diving into the studio of artist TTK (@gottkgo) as he takes on a high-stakes project: a vintage Christian Dior bomber jacket. Watch how he uses Angelus Direct supplies to strip away a 14-year-old design and bring a vibrant, summer-inspired masterpiece to life on a classic leather canvas.

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TTK @gottkgo

In the early 2000's, I began customizing because it was a way for me to combine my love for sneakers & art/design. Within the first year of me customizing, brand opportunities came my way. Fast forward to today and hundreds of custom sneakers later, I'm still doing this! I like to tell people that I'm an artist first, customizing on sneakers or a jacket is just a surface to work on. It's always a good feeling to know that something I customized made someone feel special.

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How to Re-customize a Jacket:

A Step-By-Step Guide

1

Strip & Prep

Because this jacket was originally painted 14 years ago, the first step was clearing the canvas. TTK used Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to strip away the unwanted areas of the old design.

Expert Tip: For vintage or previously painted leather, ensuring all old finishers and factory coatings are removed is essential for the new paint to bond. Always test a small, inconspicuous area first!

Vintage Christian Dior leather bomber jacket before custom painting with Angelus leather paint

Because this jacket was originally painted 14 years ago, the first step was clearing the canvas. TTK used Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to strip away the unwanted areas of the old design.

Expert Tip: For vintage or previously painted leather, ensuring all old finishers and factory coatings are removed is essential for the new paint to bond. Always test a small, inconspicuous area first!

Vintage Christian Dior leather bomber jacket before custom painting with Angelus leather paint
2

Base Coat & Color Mixing

To ensure the new "Summer" theme popped against the dark chocolate leather, TTK mixed a custom base color using Angelus Acrylic Leather Paints. He blended shades to match the jacket's tone where needed and created a clean foundation for the new lettering.

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint bottles and professional sneaker customization brushes on a workbench

To ensure the new "Summer" theme popped against the dark chocolate leather, TTK mixed a custom base color using Angelus Acrylic Leather Paints. He blended shades to match the jacket's tone where needed and created a clean foundation for the new lettering.

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint bottles and professional sneaker customization brushes on a workbench
3

Layout & Sketching

Precision is key. TTK used a level and a silver marking pen to map out the "I Really Miss SUMMER" typography. Sketching your design first ensures proper centering and scaling before the first drop of paint hits the leather.

Sketching a custom typography design on leather using a silver marking pen and level

Precision is key. TTK used a level and a silver marking pen to map out the "I Really Miss SUMMER" typography. Sketching your design first ensures proper centering and scaling before the first drop of paint hits the leather.

Sketching a custom typography design on leather using a silver marking pen and level
4

Paint the Leather

Using a variety of Angelus Paint Brushes, TTK applied thin, even coats of vibrant orange and white for the lettering. He chose to leave the original center model intact, as he liked how the Angelus paint had aged beautifully and held up perfectly for over a decade.

Artist applying Angelus leather paint to a custom bomber jacket with a fine detail brush

Using a variety of Angelus Paint Brushes, TTK applied thin, even coats of vibrant orange and white for the lettering. He chose to leave the original center model intact, as he liked how the Angelus paint had aged beautifully and held up perfectly for over a decade.

Artist applying Angelus leather paint to a custom bomber jacket with a fine detail brush
5

Finishing Steps (optional)

To protect the new artwork from scuffs and the elements, the design is sealed with a finisher. For a project like this, we recommend Angelus 4-Coat Urethane Finish in a Satin or Matte sheen to match the natural look of the vintage leather.

Finished custom painted Christian Dior leather jacket with colorful summer theme by artist TTK

To protect the new artwork from scuffs and the elements, the design is sealed with a finisher. For a project like this, we recommend Angelus 4-Coat Urethane Finish in a Satin or Matte sheen to match the natural look of the vintage leather.

Finished custom painted Christian Dior leather jacket with colorful summer theme by artist TTK
Vintage Christian Dior leather bomber jacket before custom painting with Angelus leather paint
Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint bottles and professional sneaker customization brushes on a workbench
Sketching a custom typography design on leather using a silver marking pen and level
Artist applying Angelus leather paint to a custom bomber jacket with a fine detail brush
Finished custom painted Christian Dior leather jacket with colorful summer theme by artist TTK

Creator Questions

NYC

I first heard of Angelus back in 2004 from online sneaker forums

Custom jackets & sneakers

I love all of the paints! I've been using Angelus for over 20 years and I love that the brand continues to evolve.

Don't be too afraid to start.

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