Back to the Craft: A Look Back at the Bee Keepers Box

Baker Bezalel November 11, 2026

Looking back at the video of me making the first sample box for my Beekeepers collaboration with adidas brought something back. I was deep in the craft of wooden shoeboxes. Spending time with an idea. Figuring out how to bring it to life with my hands.

Custom adidas Bee Keepers sneakers beside their open display box — The Bee Keepers shoes and custom box from the adidas collaboration.

See the box come together

A closer look at the making of the Bee Keepers box, from the workbench to the details that made it feel like part of the shoe.

Watch the Bee Keepers box process on Instagram →

Back at the workbench

This was my first big collaboration. Looking at the box now, I see the years of learning that went into it. The woodworking, the black and yellow aesthetic, and all the details coming together.

Baker measuring the wooden Bee Keepers sample box at his workbench — Measuring the sample box at the workbench.

Cut honeycomb adidas panel held under blue workshop lighting — The honeycomb adidas panel before assembly.

Mixing the yellow material at the workbench. Silent process footage.

Learning while moving

Business grew fast, life moved fast, and I learned while moving. There was always something to figure out. Another order. Another situation. Another reason to pivot.

I'm grateful for how far the work has taken me. But constantly pivoting doesn't leave much room to sit with the craft. To slow down, relax, and give an idea your full attention. Sometimes you spend so much time keeping things moving that you miss having room to explore.

Live bees on the honeycomb adidas display panel — A closer look at the honeycomb display panel from the project.

Glossy yellow Wu-Tang-inspired emblem during the Bee Keepers box build — The yellow emblem taking shape.

Golden honeycomb and adidas detail inside the Bee Keepers box — A closer look at the honeycomb detail inside the box.

Fitting the yellow emblem to the sample box. Silent process footage.

From the workbench to the hive

Thank you to Bob and Bev Bradbury of B & B Enterprises in Flowery Branch, Georgia, whose farm welcomed our shoot. Their local honey business and the care they put into their bees gave this project a real setting and a story beyond my workbench.

The finished box carried the idea all the way to the bee farm. Looking at these photos, I still love seeing the woodworking and yellow details out in the world.

Bees across the yellow emblem on the custom wooden box lid.

Close-up of bees and honey drips on the wooden box lid.

Beekeeper holding both custom shoes above the finished display box.

Beekeeper holding the finished ShoeBaker display box.

Making room again

Closing commissions means stepping away from a significant part of my income. Making shoes has paid my bills. So this decision comes with a real adjustment.

I still have existing orders to finish. Those commitments come first. But once these orders are done, I'm taking my time again. Giving myself room to follow an idea and see where it goes.

Creating from expression, not necessity.

Close-up of the custom Bee Keepers sneaker display held by a beekeeper — The finished display, photographed at the bee farm.

Looking at this first sample-box video reminds me how much I enjoy the making itself. The opportunity to focus. The space to be curious. That's what I'm looking forward to getting back to.

I've missed that. This is going to be good.

ShoeBaker. Built from scratch.

Read the story behind the adidas Bee Keepers collaboration →

Visit the people behind the hives

Bob and Bev Bradbury · B & B Enterprises · Flowery Branch, Georgia

The beekeepers who welcomed our shoot grow over 200 kinds of flowers on their property. Their website features raw wildflower honey, sourwood honey from their Habersham County hives, and creamed honey in seven flavors.

Read our appreciation of Bob, Bev and their farm →
Visit Buy Georgia Honey for current products and information →

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