1985, the year of the college dunk. Nike releases the original 7 college Dunk, some of the most storied programmes in college basketball now had the shoes that bled their colors. Michigan, UNLV, Villanova, Kentucky, St Johns, Arizona, Iowa. Born from the Nike Terminator, the original 7 dunks represented the first time Nike had introduced an integrated collection of basketball warm-ups, uniforms and shoes.

Introduced as a technical basketball at the time, what the dunk really represented was an explosion of colors. From a pure color and design aesthetic, the dunk was one of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of Nike dunks.

Then true to the Nike formula, the dunk went away. It has lived one season and done its job. It broke new ground, showing sneaker enthusiasts what it could be done with new colors.
But the original 7 weren’t dead and buried.

They simply lay dormant, waiting for their chance to return in vintage style. Because of their color schemes and rugged build, they developed a cult following in both the skate and sneaker communities; a cult that paved the way for a rebirth of the dunk 2 decades later.

It was 2008: the year of the dunk. Nike produced 5 custom-made lockers with the 7 original college dunks. We were really lucky that Nike presented Royalefam with one of them.

SBTG and hence, Royalefam, got started because of our founder’s love for kicks, of which the original vintage dunks featured prominently. Now having built both a career and a company based on that love and those sneakers, we have taken it upon ourselves to give vintage a new groove. Having never before had all 7 dunks in our possession, SBTG Custom Kicks now pays tribute to the original college dunks with our spin on things, putting a twist on the college colours.

Firstly we researched the 7 colleges and what had made each of them stand-out. From the players who became superstars, the coaches that were legends or the fight songs and mottos that said it all.

We used the most relevant from each and stencilled them on the dunks. These were combined with Royalefam’s trademark hand-painted camo designs done in both the school colours and complimentary shades. Giving a new aesthetic to an old classic. Always remaining true to the school.

I think this was the first ever pair of Air Max’s that I painted on. I must say that I enjoyed it and it made me appreciate the sneaker more.

It is a sneaker that looks tech but it still retains the old skool values. A silhouette that is as classic as the Air force 1.

The Air Max 90 allows me slightly more room for expression than the dunk (which I thought was already perfect) with many more panelling systems to play around with and discover.

Mint shemagh base panel and mono tiger camouflage pattern on toe and side wall.

SBTG Custom Kicks - Martzigzag

This is still one of my favorite pairs of Air max 90s.

A lawyer, a brother and a SBTG collector since 2004. I would say Roman has bought more SBTG custom kicks than anyone else in the world.

We receive emails from him very frequently asking: Any new stuff up your sleeves? Anything intense, labor-intensive?

Im sure if you are in the right area of NYC, you might spot Roman rocking his special 1 of 1 custom kicks. This guys is always fresh and breaking necks is his game.

Red acid camo on mid sole and collar, black tonal shemagh pattern on base with contrast stitch, 1 tone asphalt tiger stripe pattern on toe and side wall Metallic olive swoosh and air bubble guard.

A mean machine, no mercy.

SBTG Custom Kicks - Roman234Life

This 1 of 1 pair was made in Brooklyn, NYC. circa 2006. They were a gift to Yu Ming from Freshness mag for letting me crash at his place. He loves his safari print and perforation. Again the base sneaker was perfect, red ankle amd red outsole and perforated inner panels.

This pair is a straight up classic panelling much like the old supreme dunk lows, with a classic air jordan colorway.

Asphalt safari print on frame, matte black perforated inner panels with gloss black swoosh, Gold logo!

SBTG Custom Kicks for Yuming from Freshness Magazine

Sometimes when you are lucky to work on a base sneaker with great construction and components, it is nice to make something clean and basic.

This pair came with black outsole, black ankle lining, black midsole stitching and smooth non-textured leather. This is the best canvas for me.

This was a special request from Eugene of Soleobsession. He wanted something simple and in the colors of his old huaraches. So we simply caged up the 2 colors nicely inside a black frame with a touch of the SBTG signature tiger stripe pattern on the swoosh.

A simple, yet timeless panelling for a classic silhouette.

SBTG Custom Kicks for Eugene of SoleObsession

This pair was done in conjunction with the run we made for the store Qubic in New Zealand.

A 1 of 1 specially made for one of the store owners, Ivy Ong. Who happens to have the same surname as me.

This was quite a tough canvas to work with firstly because of the construction (perforated panels and patent leather swoosh )

Regardless, we managed to utilize it to our advantage.

I’ve always had difficulties making sneakers for the ladies due to the lack of good base shoes out there.

Most of them have plastic and un-paintable surfaces. However these turned out great.

Consisting of Rival camo on toe and lace panel. Qubic lettering printed in Ransom note on rear.

SBTG Custom Kicks For Ivy Ong

SBTG Custom Kicks – Blanc Mono

Model: Dunk Lo WMNS
Qty:1 of 1 for Dave White
Year made: 2007
Price: $600

Made for a man who never fails to make me laugh. Dave requested a low version made specially for him when he saw me wearing the high tops in one of the Sneakerpimps tours.

What attracted him was that the sneaker encompasses multiple tonal shades of black in different patterns. This mean machine is armored up with a studded toe strap, buckle, lace cover and selvage denim at the rear.

SBTG Custom Kicks - Blanc Mono

SBTG Custom Kicks – Desert Mayhem Dunk low

Model: Dunk Lo
Qty:12 pairs for Packer store NJ
Year made: 2004
Price: $300

I stumbled across this pic on google images and it sure feels nostalgic. It was our first ever attempt at producing a sneaker in mixed mediums.

The graphics were all hand-screened on canvas then composed and cut to fit the panels. I fell in love with the Jade green when i saw the fabric in a curtain store.

These shoes were made out of my Dad’s kitchen with the help of my wife and friends. All 12 pairs of them.

SBTG Custom Kicks - Desert Mayhem Dunk Low

SBTG Custom Kicks – Sawtooth “Poison Ivy”

Model: Dunk Lo WMNS
Qty:1 of 1 for Wendy Nitrolicious
Year made: 2009
Price: $500

Made for Wendy of Nitrolicious (notorious ladies fashion blogger from NYC).

A version of the Sawtooths on a pair of womens’ dunks.

Black turquoise tiger shark teeth and hot pink animal print at the rear.

Extremely bad ass.

*Alternative Version available soon exclusively at www.nitrolicious.com

SBTG Custom Kicks - Sawtooth Poison Ivy

SBTG Custom Kicks – Afterburner

Model: Air max 1
Qty:1 of 1 for Rohit Ambekar
Year made: 2009
Price: $800

Made to order pair to match his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

The components of the sneaker were painted and fabricated to match the cars’ interior and exteriors.

Key components are the quilt toe box and collar, faux carbon fiber side wall with contrast red stitching, finished with gun metal vamp and heel.

SBTG Afterburner with Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

SBTG Afterburner - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder interior

SBTG Afterburner - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder dashboard

SBTG Afterburner - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder hood

SBTG Afterburner

For more information about Royalefam, please visit www.royalefam.com