Los Angeles streetwear brand ROKIT is the latest collaborator to work with DC Shoes, and together they put their own spin on another archive classic — the Williams OG, Stevie Williams’ first signature shoe. The collab is part of DC’s Reserve Program which celebrates and expands upon some of its most iconic styles, and Stevie was indeed an icon.
The sneaker first released in 2000, and Stevie's raw talent, elite tricks, and unique style contributed to a legacy that’s still going strong nearly two decades later. Given that the Williams OG borrows heavily from basketball culture with its extra-chunky silhouette, the founders at ROKIT immediately connected with the shoe growing up and always admired that it seemingly straddled both worlds.
Founded in 2018 and short for “Real Ones Know It’s True,” ROKIT aims to bridge the gap between skateboarding and street basketball culture, and serves a growing community of inner city youth who are tapped into both sports. “When we were skating and playing hoops, Stevie was a great juxtaposition. It was dope that he was able to put those two worlds together,” explains ROKIT co-founder Bam Barcena in the video below.
Designed by Rion Barcena, another ROKIT co-founder, the brand remixes the Williams OG with subtle nods to NBA legends, modern sportswear details, and nostalgic callouts. ROKIT’s updates include a booty enclosure that keep your feet securely in place, while a snowboard-style boot lacing system cinches easily when you’re on the go. Additional details include a hologram molded side logo and floating hangtag beneath the clear soles, adding another layer of street style to the iconic silhouette.
We linked up with Stevie, ROKIT’s founders, and local skaters Jahmir Brown and Kevin Bilyeu in Philadelphia to get up close and personal with the new shoe. Watch the video above to see how the collab came to fruition and look for the Williams OG x ROKIT dropping October 5 on dcshoes.com, followed by ROKIT.one and global retailers on October 20.
