If you care about panel shapes, lace loops, or whether a gum sole hits just right under white stitching, chances are you’ve seen Skate Shoe Dreams. It’s the work of Patrik Åström - a designer from northern Sweden who’s built a cult following by reimagining skate shoes, especially the éS Accel, again and again (and again).
It’s just Patrik, Photoshop, and a long-running obsession. His mock-ups feel like lost what-ifs from another timeline - Wu-Tang Accels, Lakers editions, olive-and-orange colourways you didn’t know you needed.
What started as a hobby has grown into a page followed by over 80,000 skaters, sneakerheads, and design nerds. We caught up to talk about where it began, what keeps it going, and why the Accel still hits as hard now as it did in ’95.
Let’s start with the shoe. Why the Accel? What is it about that one that keeps pulling you back in?
The Accel is such a clean and simple design, but at the same time it has so many options and possibilities for creating fun and interesting colourways. The panel layout is suitable for different types of colour blocking and it looks great in everything from bright neon colours to subtle earthy tones.
Yeah - it’s one of those shoes where the structure does a lot of the work for you. You can go loud or quiet and it holds shape.
The most challenging part is coming up with a new colourway that it hasn’t already been done!
Once an idea hits - what’s next? What’s your actual process for building these out?
When inspiration hits, I either snap a photo of the shoe or find one online. Then it’s into good ol’ Photoshop. First — and most time-consuming — is masking and layering every panel, eyelet, logo, tag, sole, pull loop, and lace. Everything.
So before you even get into the creative side, you’re hours deep just setting up the working file.
Once the groundwork’s done, I start colouring each layer. Sometimes it looks good right away — but most of the time I go through a lot of variations before I’m happy with the outcome.
And those ideas - are they usually planned themes, or more like random sparks that won’t leave you alone?
Inspiration can come from anywhere — a shoe, a car, an animal, a flag, nature, music, movies… you name it. I never sit down and think, “Time to come up with a theme.” Ideas just pop into my head, and I can’t let them go until the mockup’s done.
That definitely explains how wide your range is - there’s a looseness to the choices, but they always work. Like the Wu-Tang one…
Two of the most popular ones are the Wu-Tang and Lakers colourways. I just really like those combinations. I’m a genuine Wu-Tang fan — but I honestly don’t know squat about basketball, haha! I just remember those old éS Lakers colourways, and that purple and gold stuck with me.
And who are you actually making these for? Do you get the sense it’s mostly skaters, or has it grown beyond that now?
I see both skaters and sneakerheads in the comments and DMs. The Accel seems pretty universally appealing — though maybe it’s just me — but skaters lean toward clean, simple colourways. What I call the ‘Holy Trinity’: black/gum, white/gum, and navy/gum. Sneakerheads tend to go for the more colourful stuff.
So it’s really split - clean for the purists, wild for the collectors. You’ve stuck with the Accel, but have you ever been tempted to go beyond it? Like actually design a full silhouette of your own?
I started sketching a “sportier” Accel, but before I got far, I found out the Accel Fit was coming — and it ticked most of my boxes, especially the lace loops. I’m a sucker for lace protection. Mine had a double cup sole and a runner toe. I ended up reworking it into a sportier etnies Marana instead!
You’re clearly open to progression - so how do you feel about updating classics like the Accel? Is that a risky move?
This question comes up now and then, and I definitely think there’s always room for improvement and innovation. Why hang on to something old — maybe even obsolete — if you can make it better?
Take cars, for example. I’m really into classic muscle cars from the ’60s and early ’70s, but that doesn’t mean I love their steering feel, drum brakes, 14” steel wheels, or floaty suspension. Keep the classic style, make smart adjustments — and the whole experience gets better. It’s a fine line between success and total failure, though, so you can’t stray too far.
That makes total sense - it’s not about changing for the sake of it. It’s about keeping the experience relevant. Let’s rewind - can you remember the first time you actually saw the Accel in real life?
When I was a kid, we always got new shoes before summer break. On the last day of school in 1996, my friend showed up in a fresh pair of Accels — and I was hooked at first sight. The puffy tongue, embroidered logo, white laces on black suede, triple stitching, gum outsole… just chef’s kiss.
Instant imprint. You can’t forget that first sight.
My passion for skate shoes started before that, but that moment cemented my éS obsession, haha! The next year I got the Koston 1 in black/gum and I’ve been rocking éS ever since.
I drew shoes constantly as a kid, and when I learned Photoshop in my teens, I started swapping soles, changing colours, and “fixing” little details that bugged me. It took about 15 years before I shared anything. I figured no one else cared about that stuff — but apparently at least 82,000 people do!
Out of all the colourways you’ve done - or seen - is there one that feels the most personal to you?
I have so many favourite Accel colourways, but the classic brown/gum might take first place. It’s iconic — worn by so many legendary skaters over the years. A couple of months after I started the Skate Shoe Dreams account, Don Brown messaged me to say he liked my work and wanted to send a thank you. I was floored. He sent me a pair of brown/gum Accels — so that colourway definitely has a special place in my heart.
Let’s talk legacy. Why do you think the Accel has managed to stay so relevant for so long?
The simple answer is: it’s a great shoe. It performs well, has a timeless design, and it’s super comfortable.
It showed up right at the start of what many — including me — call the golden era of skateboarding. I was 8 in 1995, so I didn’t have any real insight into the industry, but from what I could see, the Accel made a huge impact and was loved by pretty much everyone.
It was everywhere — in mags, in videos, on the feet of some of the best skaters of that time. Of all time, actually. And when the best and coolest skaters are wearing something, naturally everyone who looks up to them wants to wear it too.
If you ever got the chance to bring one of your dream colourways to life - full packaging and all - what would that look like?
I’d love to see the new (old?) Accel shape in one of my imaginary colourways. It’s hard to pick just one, but I’m a big fan of green — maybe forest green/gum or olive with orange highlights.
Material-wise, I’d go with suede and mesh. Maybe a synthetic suede. I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I do love animals, so I prefer an animal-friendly option when it’s available.
For packaging, I’d love to do something more exclusive — unique colours, logos, maybe some textured elements. Buuuut I also wouldn’t want to complicate production or raise the environmental impact, so a plain brown cardboard box would work just fine.
I’d also love to do a matching (or contrasting?) Accel slipper to go with it. I live in northern Sweden, and winters get cold. I need something to keep my feet warm while I make mockups!
So - if it was all on the table, what’s the ultimate dream scenario?
My dream collaboration would be to design a completely new shoe from the ground up with éS. I’ve done a few mockups that could maybe count as new designs — even if you can tell where the inspiration came from.
Ideally, it’d be mid-puff, have some kind of lace protection, and sit on a double cup sole. Maybe a runner toe. A double-lasted construction could be cool too.