British chef Gordon Ramsay gets his shoes customised. He has no choice. He wears size 15. While the rest of his community might not need to get footwear made, chefs do deliberate a fair deal on what they slip on to their feet. While literature online rates the Crocs Bistro and Dansko Professional high on preference, Mumbai-based chef Harsh Dixit had his eyes set on a pair of Ozweego trainers. The chunky sneakers, high on breathability and snug cushioning by Adidas, were a rage in the late 1990s. Harking back on their retro popularity at parties rather than running tracks, the trainers were re-released recently to celebrate the stylish decade.

Two months ago, Dixit, who is personal chef to Ranbir Kapoor, had the limited edition pair delivered to his Lokhandwala home. "Back then, the craze around sneakers wasn't as big," Dixit, 32, recalls. "But I remember hankering for this style because it was rad, with its wavy midsole lines." The pair arrived at his residence in packaging modelled after a cereals box. It speaks of a collaboration that Adidas is forging with a variety of creators, including chefs, hoping they create a "physical manifestation of the product proposition". They chose Dixit and Kelvin Cheung, former F&B head of Bandra's seafood restaurant Bastian, calling them "experimental" and for their "appreciation for quality footwear that make a solid style statement".