BRIAN KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM

From my “Detroit Portraits” project, this is Rick Williams. He’s co-founder of Burn Rubber, a very (very!) successful sneaker boutique in Royal Oak.

Rick and his business parter Roland Coit are part of a very savvy and socially conscious  generation of proud Detroit tastemakers that are influencing culture as well as driving the new Detroit brand. If you want evidence, watch the behind the scenes video of their photo shoot for their ”Detroit Riot” clothing line partnership with Acapulco Gold…and then read the inspiration for the Detroit Riot clothing line below:

“The Detroit Riot series was inspired by the city’s Riots of 1967, that occurred as a direct result of many of the ills that are plaguing our society today like a troubled economy, high unemployment rate, police brutality, dissatisfaction with social conditions and the rapid population decline in many urban areas. The Detroit Riots series brings light to how far we’ve come as a society but also shows how close we are to repeating history if issues are not only addressed but corrected.”

Rick (his twitter is @rickwlms…hit him up) also recently collaborated with New Balance on his own shoe designs that have ignited a lot of buzz and are selling like crazy.

If that’s not enough, Rick designs clothing and other accessories via his “The Distinct Life” label that are also distributed through Burn Rubber.

Roland was out of town in Vegas doing Burn Rubber business when I shot Rick. I can’t wait to head back and get his portrait too.