Mike Sturge started his Footwear journey via Footwear Customization, through his business LeftCoastLaced, where he customize football cleats for NFL athletes. Mike begins by working with the athlete directly, sharing concepts and personal stories that can help bolster his approach, and tell a strong story. Then, all of the work is done by hand; sanding, painting, finishing and taking professional photos. Through this venture, Mike has helped raise over $20,000 for charities that support ALS, Alzheimers, and Children’s hunger via creative colorways, and storytelling. Working with these athletes exposed him early on to the collaboration process that is integral to his career now. All of his customization work can be found on his Instagram account.
Customizing footwear, and working with professional athletes lead Mike to his true passion for footwear design and product creation. After earning his Bachelors in Industrial Design in 2018, Mike Sturge began working in the industry, specifically in the outdoor space, with companies like OluKai, Huckberry, and in his current role at Hi-Tec Global, where he is a footwear designer across all genders, working on trail, casual, and performance models.
When Mike Sturge is not working on footwear, he tends to find himself being inspired by sports, music, and especially movies.
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