British web company Sneakerly launched today with users able to submit their own designs or pre-order nine launch day trainer designs.

The site employs the crowdsource funding model which means that only designs people want to wear are made. Essentially it’s Threadless meets Kickstarter for sneakers.

“Some call it crowd sourcing but we call it common sense because we only make what you want us to make,” explains founder and product designer David Hill.

“We’re giving designers another creative outlet for their artwork and it’s an outlet that helps pay the bills.

“The designer can focus on their art and doesn’t have to worry about manufacturing or order fulfillment, Sneakerly takes care of all that.”

“Sneakerly aims to give consumers the same great choice when it comes to indie footwear as they have for indie t-shirts.”

Neil Rook, a designer who has contributed a design to the site said: “I think its great that designers and illustrators could see some income from their work and not just the promise of recognition and exposure.

“Too many people expect us to work for free, especially young talent. Unfortunately free doesn’t pay the bills though.”

For designers the process couldn’t be simpler: create an account, download the the trainer template, apply a design, then upload it to the site.

A pair of sneakers have 25 days to get 250 pre-orders, called endorsements, and if successful, they get made and the designer gets paid.