InsightsInsightsSep 2026
Why Fair Revenue Share Should Matter to You as a Buyer
The price you pay and the amount the artist receives are two different numbers. The gap between them is usually invisible — and it quietly determines the quality of the work available to you.
Where the money actually goes
Out of any price come the blanks, paint, finisher, packaging, shipping, payment fees and whatever cut the platform takes. What is left pays for the artist's hours.
When that remainder is thin, the artist has to work faster, buy cheaper materials, or take on more pairs at once. Every one of those shows up in the finished shoe.
A fair share buys you better work
Artists who keep a fair share can afford proper leather paints, longer cure times and fewer pairs in progress at once — the three things that most affect how a pair looks and how long it lasts.
It also keeps good artists in the field. Talented people leave when the maths stops working, and buyers lose the range of styles as a result.
- Better materials and proper sealing
- Time to cure rather than rush
- Fewer simultaneous commissions, more attention per pair
What to ask before you order
Ask what the artist receives from the price, and how long the pair will take. Anyone working fairly will answer both without hesitation.
Be wary of platforms that will not explain their cut, or listings priced far below what materials and hours plausibly cost.
How we approach it
We are building a marketplace on the principle that the artist keeps the clear majority of what you pay, with fees stated openly rather than buried.
That is not charity — it is how you get work worth wearing for years, from artists who are still painting next season.
Join the marketplace
We're building a marketplace connecting custom sneaker artists with the people who collect their work. Apply as an artist, or join the list to hear when the first drop goes live.