Shaquille Toby grew up in Bethel, Tobago, where it was the norm for young people to pick up a trade. Whether it was construction, masonry, mechanics, or painting, there were plenty of skills to learn.
For Toby, this hands-on approach to life shaped his creative journey in ways he never expected.
"From the start, learning a skill was the goal. Learning a skill opened up endless possibilities. We were taught there were no limits to what we could do."
Toby, 32, refers to himself as a craftsman but says he started his creative journey as an artist.
"I began painting and customising shoes, now I do less painting and more fabric work. Customisation has become a part-time thing after I had to adjust my priorities based on life experiences."
Known for his meticulously hand-painted, intricate and vibrant patterns on shoes, Toby says the Carnival season was his busiest.
"It's the time when customers want the boldest colours and loudest designs. Most of the shoes I work on are white, so it’s easier since it’s like a blank canvas."
His creative journey began when he was 17, after completing his studies at Signal Hill Secondary School.
"I said to myself 'I want to paint my shoes,' so I grabbed some acrylic paint I had and just went for it. People laughed at me in the beginning. I got heavily criticised when I started in 2009."
[caption id="attachment_1145260" align="alignnone" width="683"] Shaquille Toby also works as a part-time mechanic, car painter, and straightener – all skills he learnt in his younger years in Tobago. -[/caption]
Back then, Toby didn’t have any specific inspiration: he just let the shoes themselves guide his designs. But the criticism made him pause from pursuing his passion.
"I was still interested in painting and customisation, so I started airbrushing. I did a lot of stuff for friends and even did banners for the church I attended. I took a break from shoes and focused on clothing for a bit."
Reflecting on those early days, Toby laughs. "Looking at my first designs, they’re definitely not professional by my standards now."
A turning point for Toby came during a phone call with a close friend in the US reminiscing on their teenage years, in 2022: the friend reminded Toby of a pair of shoes he customised for a woman.
"He told me the shoe customisation business was huge in the US and started sending me Instagram profiles of creators, showing me the followers they had and the money they were making."
That conversation reignited Toby’s passion.
[caption id="attachment_1145256" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photos courtesy Shaquille Toby -[/caption]
"I fell back in love with it again. I realised I wasn't the only one doing this, so I went ahead and bought the materials to take my craft to the next level."
While Toby currently works at the MIC Institute of Technology, he is also a part-time mechanic, car painter, and straightener –all skills he learnt in his younger years.
He fondly recalls a moment when his work caught the attention of big brands.
"Before my Instagr
