SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

words by Nick DePaula

For many sneaker companies, appealing to the masses with safe and calculated designs for each season has been a long-followed industry custom. After six years of designing footwear for Vans, Rich Cofinco, Robert Nand and Brandon Brubaker decided they wanted to team up and take on a new path, as they set out to create a footwear company that would be relevant to fashionable professionals in an array of settings – whether athletic, business or leisure. Creative Recreation was born, and since its launch in 2002 the brand from Orange County has been met with a rising cult following.

With each pair of shoes produced in limited quantities of only 500 pairs, Creative Recreation aims to offer styles and colorways that people can selectively choose to fit their daily demands. “We set up a company as a lifestyle brand to cater to all people and not just a niche,” explains designer Rich Cofinco. “They can pick our product for any lifestyle needs.” Models such as the Cesario and the Capone have been well received, and by using non-traditional colorways and materials such as croc skin, patent leather, cracked leather and snakeskin (and sometimes all at once), Creative Recreation’s progressive designs have forced many consumers to take notice. While the brand initially received heaps of adoration for their more colorful models, there’s been a noticeable shift towards providing an equal blend of subtle and conservative variations of their footwear for those with a more subdued style.

Though other brands may draw inspiration from a specific sport or even blatantly copy more popular designs like that of Nike’s Air Force 1, Creative Recreation aims to offer sneakers that could be versatile for fashion-conscious working adults, yet can be worn with a suit or simply jeans and a t-shirt. By designing shoes with the “comfort of an athletic sneaker combined with the materialization of a dress shoe,” the brand aspires to offer the “ultimate crossbreed” in footwear. Often featuring straps, metal lace eyelets, and sharp and bold design lines, each Creative Recreation model is hand-made and uses quality materials for a durable construction. “We base [our shoes] off of the rich and famous lifestyle and styles from yachting, Bocce, and Polo, but we want to offer lifestyle choices that work for everyone,” says Cofinco.

Although still very young relative to other more established sneaker companies, Cofinco and his co-founders are confident that their brand will reach consumers and amass a loyal following. “A lot of our new stuff is also showing a different direction and tiers we’re trying to go towards,” declares Confinco. “The Cesario has been our most successful model, but we also have great stuff coming next year. We’re just hoping to be around as long as possible!”

To check out the varied offerings from Creative Recreation, hit up your nearest sneaker boutique or visit them online at cr8tiverecreation.com, as there’s sure to be something to appeal to any lifestyle!

Here’s a look at just a few of the upcoming Summer releases from Creative Recreation. For a full Summer Index, check out the many colorways pictured on their site.

Several colorways of the Cesario:

Cesario – White/Grape/Dark Green:

Cesario – Prime Black Patent:

Ponti – Black Patent/White

Dicoco Low – Black/Blue/Highlight Pink

Dicoco Low – Prime Black/White Patent Croc

Rocco – Black

Don Carlo – White Woven

Don Carlo – Black Woven

Images Via: Cr8tiveRecreation.com