sneaker heads

Meet the talented Houstonian making moves with his custom sneakers for music and sports stars

Papasideris poses with hip-hop legend Bun B and Lil' Flip.

Photo courtesy of John Papasideris

For Houston sneakerheads, July will be a great month.

This Saturday, vintage store RAXX will be holding a Sneaker and Vintage Night Fest over at 8th Wonder Brewery. And designer footwear shop Sneaker Summit will have its annual H-Town Sneaker Summit at NRG Center on Sunday, July 31.

Good timing for sneaker designer John Papasideris, who is ready to design glorious, swagalicious kicks for those who are willing to fork over the dough. He's also created kicks for Houston hip-hop legend Bun B, plus stars like Lil' Flip and the enigmatic former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Papasideris is the owner of JPOPS Customs, a company that specializes in customizing athletic footwear. Believe it or not, this is something the high-school, science/English teacher and basketball coach for Spring Branch ISD has been doing for only a year and some change — and he has the Coronavirus to thank for that.

"I had some time on my hands with the school kind of bring virtual and things like that," Papasideris tells CultureMap. "I've always kind of been into sneakers myself. So, you know, I kind of went through a YouTube wormhole and just typed in how to customize shoes, and one thing led to another."

Born and raised in Houston, Papasideris got the itch to start his sneaker-design business when he styled a pair for his niece. "I had her pick the colors, and she was turning three," he says. This eventually led to pals requesting some spruced-up sneaks for their youngins. "It was kind of a test run, and she was kind of my guinea pig for it. I enjoyed it, and I started kind of picking other artists' brains about their techniques and the materials that they use and it kind of just flew off from there."

It wasn't until Papasideris designed shoes for some local, hip-hop legends that things began to blowuptuate. "I just reached out to some of the rappers that I grew up with and listened to," he says. He took a chance and hit up Lil' Flip on Instagram, who was quite ready to go to work. "We collabbed on two or three pairs," he says. They worked on Nike Air Force 1s featuring designs from the shows Breaking Bad and Squid Game. When Flip showed them off on social media, Papasideris says his followers "grew by, like, a hundred percent."

They also worked on a special pair for Bun B's Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo concert, which took place earlier this year. Along with making pairs for Flip and fellow rapper Z-Ro, he also gave a pair to the star of the show. "I got to meet Bun B for a couple minutes," he remembers. "They were kind of in the middle of their soundcheck for that big show and, you know, he had a lot on his plate. So, luckily, he was gracious enough. I went into the studio and presented him with the shoes and shook his hand and told him that I really appreciated what he does for the city."

He also created a pair of Nike cleats for Antonio Brown, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer who left the team in a very memorable fashion. Papasideris designed the shoe when he was in town, playing the Texans. "I saw it on my buddy's Instagram," he says. " I was like, well, it happened once before with Lil' Flip. So, why don't I just reach out to Antonio Brown?... He reached out back and I made him a custom pair of cleats, and he really appreciated it."

For people looking for get customized shoes from Papasideris, contact him through his website. If you like to see his work up-close before you do, some shoes he designed are on display over at the Houston High Society smoke shop, over on Bagby. And even though Papasideris won't be at those aforementioned events, he says he is planning to get on top of it for next year's sneaker-related events. "For me," he says, "I don't really have a huge, I guess, selection of shoes that I can just pull -- like, you know, your Foot Lockers. They have huge inventories and, like, I don't. So, it's kind of on a person-to-person basis.

"But Sneaker Summit is something that I'm going to try and work towards — the next Sneaker Summit, that is — and just kind of get a good inventory and a wide range of shoe designs," he continues. "That way, when it does come to that, I'll have product to showcase and the patrons can kind of touch them and see the work that comes into it. Hopefully, it'll generate some new clients and some new interest and just kind of go from there."

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LAUNDRY LOWDOWN

Houston dermatologist's guide to doing laundry for healthier summer skin

Photo by Averie Woodard

Houston's heat and humidity can increase sweat buildup on clothing, towels, bedding, and accessories. A dermatologist shares how often to wash common summer essentials to help prevent skin irritation, breakouts, and other seasonal skin concerns.

Houstonians are familiar with Texas's unofficial fifth season – sweaty season. Rising temperatures, humidity, sunscreen, and the occasional visit to the pool or the beach create the perfect storm for skin irritation. A few extra loads of laundry might not be anyone's idea of summer fun, but healthier skin could make it worth the effort.

Most people know to toss sweaty workout clothes straight into the laundry hamper, but many everyday items don't get the attention they deserve. According to Dr. Radhika Shah of Westlake Dermatology, skipping laundry day could quickly show up on a person's skin.

"Sweat can mix with bacteria and other debris from the skin when it accumulates on clothing, which can lead to odors, skin irritation, and sometimes, infection," Shah tells CultureMap.

The combination of sweat, heat, and moisture can create an environment where several common skin conditions thrive. Shah says she frequently sees issues including acne, folliculitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and yeast-related rashes such as intertrigo and tinea versicolor.

Not all fabrics handle summer heat equally

"People should look for cotton and linen (natural fabrics) over polyester and nylon (synthetic fabrics), as natural fabrics breathe better and tend to release sweat and odors more easily," Shah says.

Many might think that warm weather causes clothing fibers to trap moisture and bacteria more quickly, but Shah explains that how a fabric reacts is heavily dependent on the fabric itself. That means material can make a noticeable difference during Houston's long stretch of heat and humidity.

Laundry routines are important

Summer laundry habits can affect skin health just as much as skincare products. Shah recommends avoiding heavily fragranced detergents whenever possible and skipping fabric softeners altogether.

"Detergents with fragrance can irritate the skin further, especially in those with sensitive skin or eczema," she says. "In addition, I would try to avoid fabric softeners, which can coat fabrics and trap sweat and other skin debris."

While everyone knows to wash underwear and gym clothes on repeat, Shah says there are two commonly overlooked items that deserve more attention.

"Change your pillowcase and your hat," she says. Her recommendation is to wash pillowcases every two to four days and hats after every three to four wears.

The summer washing guide for healthy skin

Not sure how often to wash your favorite warm-weather essentials? Shah offers these guidelines for summer's hottest months.

Swimwear: After every wear. Chlorine, saltwater, sweat, and sunscreen residue can all linger in fabric and irritate skin.
Workout clothes: After every wear. This is non-negotiable during hot summers.
Bras: Every two to three wears.
Sleepwear: Every two to three wears.
Shorts and pants: Every two to three wears.
Dresses: Every two to three wears.
Jeans: Every three to four wears.
Bath towels: After three to four uses.
Beach towels: After every use.
Sheets: Weekly.
Pillowcases: Every two to four days.

Don't forget your beauty tools

Regular maintenance of beauty tools is also important for healthy skin, especially during the summer when sweat and sunscreen use increase. Makeup brushes, especially those used for foundation, concealer, and cream products, can accumulate oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and product buildup. Dermatologists recommend washing foundation and concealer brushes weekly, while powder brushes can typically be cleaned every 1 to 2 weeks.

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