words // Brandon Richard
We've seen sneakers converted into everything from gas masks to speakers. Kicks tend to be the gift that keeps on giving, and just when you think you've seen it all, a Sole Collector reader by the name of Bryan Postelnek throws an absolute curveball.
What you're looking at here is Kickin' Mitts. No need for an elaborate explanation - they're kitchen mitts made out of used sneakers. Bryan ran into the same problem we all face; an abundance of past their prime shoes piled up in the closet, some more useless than others. Before reaching that critical crossroads of tossing them out or making a donation, he somehow came up with the idea of repurposing them into oven mitts. That's it - that's the story behind the birth of Kickin' Mitts.
So now you're obviously wondering how one manages to transform an old sneaker into an oven mitt. No problem, Bryan has you covered. Using web-based documentation platform Instructables, he's laid out an 11-step process that takes you from New Balance 690 to homemade hand protection. The project does involve a few tools, some disinfecting and pedestrian sewing skills. If you have those bases covered and are willing to take the chance of putting your beaters near the food you eat, then you owe Bryan a "Thank You!"
If you're interested in giving Kickin' Mitts a shot, you can check out Bryan's unbelievably detailed guide here. I'm telling you this in hopes that photos of a "South Beach" or Foamposite Kickin' Mitt hits our inbox in the coming weeks. Please make it happen.
Read on for photos of the Kickin' Mitt process and a video of Bryan testing his out on some Tollhouse cookies. Yep, you read that right.
