words // Brandon Richard
Established in 2002, the Wounded Warriors Project is a nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of men and women who have been injured in combat. A decade later, WWP has grown into a $130 million charity offering a raft of programs for veterans injured in the wars since 9/11. Programs offered through WWP include Combat Stress Recovery, Family Support, Physical Health & Wellness, Education Centers, Transition Training, International Support and Peer Mentoring to name a few.
Recently, sneaker customizer Mache was contacted by the Wounded Warriors Project in hopes that he'd work on a custom pair of sneakers to be auctioned off at the Rhode Island Sneaker XChange on September 2. Mache, who unfortunately lost his father early due to complications from injuries suffered during combat, was more than happy to oblige.
As requested, Mache transformed the "Cool Grey" Nike LeBron 9 into a piece of art inspired by a classic Warhawk fighter aircraft. Custom painted elements include blue highlights, smoke and rust blemishes, rivet detailing and a traditional shark mouth graphic toward the toe.
The "Wounded Warriors Project" LeBron 9 is a size 12 and will remain a 1-of-1 production. You can try getting your hands on these customs by checking out the Rhode Island Dunk XChange on Sunday, September 2 at Whiskey Republic in Providence.
You can stay up-to-date on Mache's latest projects by visiting machecustoms.com and following him on Twitter @MACHE275.
