STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Owner of Fresh barber shop in West Brighton for about 12 years, Marco D'Angelo, 36, became interested in crafting leather sneakers after a chance meeting with a Brooklyn master shoemaker.

"When I met this shoemaker, it was like a breath of fresh air. It was like something I just felt I needed to do," said D'Angelo.

When the shoemaker was willing to teach him the craft, D'Angelo searched for and purchased a more than 100-year-old leather sewing machine.

"I had the Singer sewing machine refurbished and tuned up. It works like a dream," he added.

He became a hardworking apprentice of sorts. Soon after, he started making his own leather sneakers that were as comfortable as they were hip and trendy. Next, D' Angelo went the extra step and traveled to Italy where he sought out products and learned the business.

"All the leather is from the Tuscany region and Milan," he said.

A SPECIAL ORDER

After promoting his sneakers via social media, he was spotted by celebrity clients, like Ghostface Killah of the Wu Tang Clan.

"I started making the sneakers in the guest bedroom of my house. Soon, my friends wanted pairs, so I made some for them, then it just escalated from there," added D'Angelo, who eventually created a studio in the back of his Post Avenue barber shop.

But it wasn't until D'Angelo got a very special order that his shoe-making hobby morphed into a new career.

"A good friend of mine was working together with 50 Cent on Effen Vodka, and he wanted to get him a gift for his birthday. He came to me and said, 'What do I get for somebody who has everything in the world?'," recalled D'Angelo.

"A handcrafted pair of sneakers was unique and different. He came to me with a project, so I got on it right away. ...When I was done, he threw $2,500 on the table," he added.

50 Cent wearing Marco D'Angelo Shoes with the Cavalier cheerleaders . pic.twitter.com/oJ9fW8ZWc2 — Marco D'Angelo (@1marcodangelo) January 23, 2016

Soon after 50 Cent was seen sporting D'Angelo's sneakers at a basketball game, Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted to know where he could get a pair, said D'Angelo.

"Lebron and a couple of the other players were asking, 'How do I get a pair for myself?' That's when 50 called me up, told me to come to his office and I had a meeting with him," recalled D'Angelo.

The rest is history.

After 50 Cent and other celebrities found D'Angelo's luxury sneakers, he could no longer manufacturer them by hand in the back of his barber shop. He now produces them in a factory in Italy.

"I found this amazing high-end factory that is capable of producing the way I was making them here on Staten Island," he added.

FASHION WEEK LAUNCH

At a gallery in Soho, D'Angelo's collection was unveiled during Fashion Week with several celebrities in tow.

"The launch was amazing. So many people came out. A lot of my barber shop clients came out and bought sneakers. It was amazing," said D'Angelo, who noted his next project is to create a women's line of luxury sneakers.

The Marco D'Angelo luxury sneaker collection 33 Gallery: The Marco D'Angelo luxury sneaker collection

MARCO D'ANGELO AT A GLANCE

Website: www.marco-dangelo.com/



Social Media: www.instagram.com/marcodangelo1

www.facebook.com/MarcoDAngeloShoes/

New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners.

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