Andrew Hayze | 417-419 South 21st Avenue

Artist Hayze (aka Andrew Hayes) was ahead of his time. The founder, CEO and Creative Director of the Hayze Brand, was making shoes into works of art before it became cool. As often is the case with artist, his creativity and trademark were born out of necessity.

“One year it was a struggle to get me shoes because my feet had been growing so fast that my mom was tired of buying new shoes so in the summer, she bought me a pair that were two sizes big. They were white Converse. They were the only name brand I could afford… I had to wear them till they fell off. The night before the first day of school came around and I was a bit embarrassed about not having new school shoes. I decided that since my mom was an artist and we had plenty of white paint at the house, I could paint my shoes white and no one would be the wiser.” Despite Hayze’s best efforts some kids did find out and made fun of him, but the results fueled rather than discouraged him. “Like other artists I have turned trauma into work.”

Hayze, who graduated from University of Miami with a degree in and Music Business and Entertainment, Business Law, is driven to show his positivity in his artwork. He loves to explore what makes people unique, and so has sought to provide unique and personal designs for his fashion and lifestyle brand that champion’s personalization and self-love. “I work to inspire people to feel free to be their happiest most authentic selves more and more each day. My work is meant to remind people that FREEDOM IS EXHILARATING! People live happier and fulfilled lives when they are free to be themselves. BE FREE, BE YOU!

Hayze has incorporated this idea into his “BE” movement. This movement is about empowering people to be comfortable in their own skin. To be themselves unapologetically. “I want the movement to be anchored by some really important themes to me, but also I want it to be an interactive experience. Where people who see it, can add things that they feel proud of, or want to be proud of such as “Be Smart, Be Happy, Be Big, Be Different, Be Strong, Be Black, Be Caring, Be Straight, Be Gay, Be You!” I will of course be leaving space for further interpretation and space for whatever else people would like to insert so “Be___________.”

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