The Project
After finishing the last episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we just sat there for a second. It is one of those series that leaves you with something. No need for massive budgets, crazy dragon VFX scenes, or constant spectacle. Just strong storytelling, solid characters, and moments that actually feel real. And somehow, that was enough to make it one of the most enjoyable experiences in the entire saga. Knowing they are planning to continue releasing it every year makes it even better.
In the middle of all that, the character of Egg stands out. It felt like a relief watching him. A reminder that not everything in that world is dark. By the end, it honestly felt like we owed something to Dexter for delivering such joy, and even the small moments of sadness that actually hit. So we decided to do what we do best: create a 1-on-1 pair of custom sneakers for him.
Watch the Full Process
This entire project was documented from start to finish, from concept to final result. If you want to see how everything came together, watch the full video and follow the transformation step by step.
Who Is Egg?
Dexter Sol Ansell is the young actor behind Egg, a key character in the HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas by George R. R. Martin, and part of the same universe as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
While those series are known for political tension, large scale battles, and high production spectacle, this one takes a different approach. It is still set in Westeros, but it feels more grounded. More focused on relationships, character growth, and human moments.
Egg represents that shift. His performance stands out because of how natural it feels. There is innocence, curiosity, and loyalty that contrasts with the darker tone the saga is known for. That is what made us want to build something around him.
How the Project Started
We reached out to Dexter’s mom (Debbie Ansell), and she immediately liked it and told us Dexter would love it too. She also helped us understand more about him, sharing details about what he enjoys. Without that, this would have just been another themed design.
The Concept: Two Stories, One Pair
From the beginning, we knew one thing: we did not want to create just a themed sneaker. The idea was to split the design:
- One shoe represents Egg, the character
- The other represents Dexter, the person
That structure allowed us to tell a more complete story.
Designing the Sneakers
Everything started digitally, testing layouts and compositions before painting. He gravitates toward bright colors and flashy elements. We’re big fans of the jackets he wears at events, so we leaned into that and built a design that feels colorful, upbeat, and vibrant by combining a wide range of tones.
Egg Side (Character Inspired)
We built this side around elements that actually represent Egg’s journey:
- The tree from Dunk’s shield, inspired by how it was painted for him before battle
- Dunk’s sword, something Egg, as his squire, would always have close and ready
- The fish he likes so much, a small but meaningful detail tied to his character
One important decision we made was what not to include. We intentionally avoided any direct Targaryen references. Egg does not identify with that part of his background. He cuts his hair to separate himself from his family and does not want to be seen for his lineage. What he wants is freedom. He chooses to become a squire, even if it means following a hedge knight, as long as that knight has the right values.
Dexter Side (Personal Inspired)
This side is based entirely on who Dexter is. From what his mom shared and what we saw, he is really into Pokémon, so Pikachu became a central element. He’s a big fan of old-fashioned movies like Ghostbusters, so we included that as well. We also turned the swoosh into a Poké Ball to tie everything together.
Another big part of his personality is arcade games. Not casually, he really loves them. So we recreated a Pac-Man style layout on the lace area to reflect that. He goes to the arcade, racks up a ton of tickets, and then heads to Five Guys where he orders his go to milkshake, peanut butter with chocolate chips. We also added small references to gummies, since that is something he snacks on while filming.
The Painting Process (18+ Hours)
Bringing this to life required over 18 hours of hand painting + several others of planning and execution.
- Designing and testing.
- Building layers gradually
- Adding highlights and shadows for depth
- Maintaining clean lines on small details
- Sealing everything for durability
The hardest part was not the painting itself. It was making both themes feel connected.
The Shoe
We selected a pair of Air Jordan 1 Lows as our canvas. We noticed he likes wearing them, but usually in mid tops, so we went with the low tops this time.
Delivery and Reaction
We shipped the sneakers to the UK, a bit nervous about how he would react. His mom later shared that he loved them and that the pair will be displayed at an upcoming premiere event, which made the project even more meaningful for us.
Final Thoughts
This project shows what custom sneakers should be: not just a random design, but a story brought to life.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms proves that you do not need massive scale or heavy effects to create something impactful. Strong characters, great storytelling and real human moments are enough.
