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At one point, those who knew Tevin Lindo thought he was destined for football stardom, a career in medicine, or even a future as a video gamer or computer tech.

But life had other plans. At just 25 years old, the Trelawny native is the founder and CEO of Classicc Dripper, one of Jamaica's hottest emerging sneaker customisation brands.

With a brush in one hand and vision in the other, Lindo has transformed the everyday sneaker into a canvas of culture, identity, and art. His unique designs - bold, intricate, and deeply personalised - have graced the feet of icons like Usain Bolt, Vybz Kartel, and Alkaline.

"Growing up, people used to say I'd be a doctor, a vet, maybe even a footballer," Lindo laughs.

"But when man a plan, God a wipe. Sneaker art designing chose me as God knew what my heart desires for my career."

After realising that his work creates happiness, this solidified his decision of going full force in designing.

"The first time seeing someone's reaction face to face when they saw the final result of their shoes and how happy they were really made me realise that this is what I want to do. That really pushed me to go further knowing that I am creating happiness for others, getting positive feedback and also getting inspiration from my own experiences."

The Trelawny native sees himself as someone with a "respectable attitude, creative mind, strong interpersonal skills and professional work ethic."

Through Classicc Dripper, he is building strong customer relationships, building experiences, and improving professionally.

The brand, now over five years strong, has grown from a passion project into a full-scale business known for transforming regular sneakers into artpieces. With over a thousand customised pieces to date, Lindo's attention to detail, customer collaboration, and sheer talent have made Classicc Dripper a popular name in creative fashion.

"I give each client a questionnaire to lay out their ideas. Then I use my intellectual creative mindset to fulfil my customer's desires," he explains.

But even with his growing reputation and signature flair, the work isn't always easy. Lindo recalls one particular order that pushed him to the edge - his project for Romeich Entertainment.

"The accumulation of the information that was needed for Romeich's design was a challenge and I was overthinking because I wanted to do a great job. I was kinda being hard on myself because it was Major."

Still, Lindo has embraced every obstacle as part of the learning curve. Although sneakers have been the foundation of Lindo's business, the development of Classic Dripper may see the brand expand into other areas.

"I want to keep going and learning new skills to develop Classicc Dripper as an international sneaker brand. My long-term goal is expanding Classicc Dripper from not only doing sneakers but other items like clothing and accessories."

Beyond style, Lindo delivers something genuine and imaginative that appeals to the heart and self-expression. One chapter at a time, he is encouraging all young Jamaican artists to follow their passions and forge their own unique paths.