Corpus Christi (KIII News) — Coastal Bend native, Luis Pizana, is competing in the World Sneaker Championship against 63 applicants with a Selena Quintanilla inspired design.
If Pizana wins, the design will become a reality and be sold at Foot Lockers across the world.
"Footwear has always been a way for me to express myself," Pizana said.
Pizana studies at Pensole, a footwear design academy in Oregon, and every year the school teams up with different brands and host competition that challenge artist to create different designs for brands like Nike, Addidas and Under Armour.
"I've been trying the past couple years and never really made the top 64, and this is the first time I've made the cut and been able to compete with people around the world," Pizana said.
According to Pizana, the key to art is creating an emotional connection to the design.
"Hand rendering of a concept, strictly using pencil pen marker to create a concept, and really build your story around your consumer and who you would like to see wear this shoe," Pizana said.
As a Coastal Bend native, the 27-year-old grew up hearing Selena's story and decided to share it with the world.
"It was a great way to pay respect to her and Corpus Christi in general because she has influenced so many people to really go out and achieve their goals in life in whatever they may be," Pizana said.
The Tejano star was expressive through her fashion, but it was the iconic outfit from Selena's final performance at the Houston Astrodome that inspired Pizana.
"When she started concert she had a jacket over the top, as she progressed through concert she removed it and it had a completely different look to the outfit, so I wanted to give consumer ability to change their shoe as they please," Pizana said. "Laces showing or hide laces, removable strap."
Pizana's design was chosen out of a thousand across the world, and if it wins, he knows it's another way Selena fans will remember the talented artist.
You can vote for Pizana's sneaker by clicking here.