In the ever-evolving world of fashion, where trends often fade as swiftly as they arise, lives a rare breed of designer who dares to challenge the aesthetic status quo, connecting sustainability with artistry. Enrique ‘Kique’ Sanchez is one of these visionaries, and transcends the boundaries of traditional design with his conscious creations. In our “Game Changers” editorial series, we had the privilege of delving into the mind of this remarkable artist. From his Mexican roots to his innovative studio in Texas, Kique’s journey is a testament to his deep, creative passion and love for sports, especially basketball. His unique ability to revive forgotten NBA jerseys—turning them into one-of-a-kind jackets, bags, and even art installations—speaks volumes about his commitment to sustainability and his desire to reimagine the role of sportswear in our lives. As we sat down with Kique, it became clear that his work is not just about fashion; it’s about preserving memories, honouring heritage, and forging a path toward a more sustainable future.
“I was born in Mexico and came to San Antonio when I was young, growing up in different parts of Texas. I usually reflect on when I was younger to what I’m doing now, especially in design and I realize that a lot of the stuff I’m doing now is nothing that I wasn’t doing when I was in elementary. I can recall designing since that time. I was always intrigued by stitching on clothing or matching colors.”
“When I was in elementary school, I used to wear Adidas Superstars. For picture day, I had red clothes on and to match the shoes with the rest I cut some cardboards from a journal and then I put them on the side of the stripes to be red. That’s like the first time I remember doing Customs.”
“Then in high school, I started to be really interested in designing. I had to wear the same uniform every day so I began customizing my shoes, because that was the only thing where I could express myself. Spray painting on Air Force Ones, tagging them up and stuff like that. That’s why when I look back at it, I’ve been basically designing since elementary. But 2018 is when I decided to do this full time.”
How did sports, particularly basketball, influence your decision to re-use sportswear in your designs?
“Since I’m from San Antonio, the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve been winning for years, and they figured out how to stay consistent. So, a lot of the influence comes from basketball obviously.”
“I played basketball, and I still play sometimes whenever I get a chance. Ballin’ has always been a big factor for me – actually, all sports in general. Then the love for the Game transitioned into the love for shoes because of all the different basket shoe models that were coming out.”
Was there a specific designer or brand that inspired you to start creating one-of-a-kind pieces from recycled NBA jerseys and other sports-related gear?
“His name is Darren Romanelli but goes by the nickname: Dr. Romanelli.”
“I didn’t have internet at home, so I would use a school library computer. I remember when Kanye West was coming out with “Graduation”, there was a concert where he was wearing a Coca-Cola vest and it was made with Coca-Cola pieces. And I was like, where did that come from? I searched and I found this guy named Dr. Romanelli. He was already doing customs in the mid 2000s. That stuck in my head.”
“Then, the other person that influenced me is from San Antonio. His name is Jake Danklefs, but he goes by ‘Dank Customs,’ he’s big in footwear. I met him in 2010 and he brought me on, he taught me a lot. It’s cool to see somebody from your city doing that. He makes me understand that it’s possible to do what I do.”
Can you share a particularly memorable piece you’ve created that holds special significance to you?
“it’s in my closet and I actually never posted it, because it was something personal: I made a workout bench out of Mexico soccer jerseys, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.“
“I have always viewed my works not as clothes, but as Art. Something you put on the wall and looks good next to a painting. This piece signified me being an immigrant and me being in the US. Able to do a lot of things, but still with a lot of restrictions due to different rules that you have to follow. That workout bench meant that I can do the same work like everybody else on the team, but still can’t play on the court. That reminded me to keep putting in that work. It’ll come a day where eventually you’re going to be able to play on the field and you’ll be ready because you’ve been doing exactly as everybody else. Your opportunity will come.”
“The main challenge is to try to use what I have and don’t waste anything. Let’s say I’m going to do a Spurs Vest. I don’t go out and buy anything I don’t need unless it’s like the lining or a zipper. Other than that, everything else is coming from my storage of clothes in my garage or my own closet. That’s the challenge itself, being able to solve the problem and figure out how to solve it using what I already have, that’s how it works for me. it gets simpler and simpler as you just keep going down the process. Understanding that every piece of clothes can be material. If I can use it, I can sew it, then it works.”
And from a creative process point of view?
“I always see myself as an artist, and the theme behind everything is to preserve – the preservation of things. It’s not just about the clothes, I also want to preserve the memories you’ve had wearing those pieces. The bottom line is to preserve, that translates into whatever you can view preservation. I grew up from an immigrant family, and my mom would take us to the thrift shop to buy clothes so to me this is second nature. When I go in there I’m looking at everything, because you never know what you can find. Everything has value in itself, it’s just how you look at it. I started turning jerseys into vests and I naturally fell into the world of recycling and repurposing.”
“Now my goal is to eventually be in an Art gallery as well as in a fashion show. Start working with sports teams and NBA franchises. Make some up-cycled unique pieces from t-shirts and stuff they didn’t sell from the previous season to give them a new life, trying to help teams spread the culture of reuse, replacing that of waste.”
