New Balance has given a ton of attention to its classics catalog over the past several months, giving some of their best additional time in the sun while old standbys like this adapt to a new role. There are still more New Balance 574 releases than any other NB silo, but the increased prevalence of models like the 9– series, 1300 and 1500 make this new collection even more of a treat. The NB574 ’Backpack Collection’ features five solid canvas designs each accented by golden brown suede on their side panel ‘N’ and the diamond loop on their tongue to which you could presumably attach a water bottle. The implication of an ’80s era Eastpak is probably a better look than ball-and-chaining a Nalgene to your feet, so check out more images below and stick with Sneaker News for updates on this August 2012 release. via FNG
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New Balance is apparently looking to make things as hard as possible for those attempting to budget an allotment for their irreproachable classic runners. The New Balance 991 in particular has been the focus of a ton of loving energy, as right off of a preview of five equally impressive pairs slated for Q3, we see this new pair pop up as an exclusive for the B&M showroom of a fashion designer known for his own success with premium vintage kicks. The ‘Italian’ 991 was crafted in England and features premium soft blue suede contrasted by tonal grey mesh and reflective elements, the kind of grand slam colorway that’ll be gone soon from Steven Alan.
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New Balance is known for appending acronyms to the end of their numbered releases to provide unique identifiers, and while most of those (especially the in-house designs) reflect the colors in use, a select few have extra letters to denote details about its special makeup. That holds true for the Flimby Factory 30th Anniversary Pack, a trio of New Balance 576s crafted by longtime employees of NB’s Flimby, UK factory. Andy Mandle chose charcoal and red with a tartan sockliner, Billy Edgar goes earthy and opts for a two-tone zig-zag on the inside and Roy Bell rounds out the group with a chilly grey and blue suede design lined with corduroy. All of them have ’30 Years of Manufacture in the U.K. 1982-2012′ tags to drive home the theme, and you’ll find them available this August at shops like Overkill, who’re pre-selling theirs today.
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Whenever the New Balance 1500 crosses your mind, don’t you usually picture them in suede? This premium 1988 runner has been issued in innumerable suede and mesh colorups over the years, but even if that’s the ‘standard’ form, you can’t really argue with a small change that produces results like these. This NB1500UC employs a leather upper in black instead of the navy suedes we’re more accustomed to seeing on these N-branded classics, and paired with grey and a white midsole, these capture the look that’s been oh so popular in early 2012. They’re expected in stores around the same time as the purple and green suede editions, and you can pre-order now in advance of that June 2nd drop date from Berlin’s Overkill.
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It’s not a deliberate ‘pack’ in the same sense as something like the ‘Road to London’ set(s) or their upcoming Flimby 30th anniversary celebration, but New Balance is clearly working with a theme across multiple models in their mid-high number range. Having seen similar motifs applied to the 998 and 1300, and now we get the ‘Denim Blue’ style applied to a silo we can’t do without in this, its silver anniversary year. This New Balance M996DB treats us to tonal suede and mesh, which is all blue and relies on silver accents and a white midsole for a more traditional NB style than had they gone completely ‘dipped’. Both other ‘Denim Blue’ NBs have released here in the US in recent weeks, so stick with Sneaker News to find out if/when these arrive and check out some additional images in the meantime. Photos: mita sneakers
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In almost every case except sneaker-centric conventions, buying your kicks from a traveling retailer who temporarily sets up shop at an open-air market isn’t exactly the best investment you can make. On the other hand, when one thinks of the kind of goods you’ll find at modern farmer’s markets, it’s easy to see how that kind of hand-crafted artisan quality carries over into the theme of these upcoming New Balance 577s. The ‘Farmers Market’ NB577s will be cropped this fall, navy and olive waxed suede designs perfectly timed for those colder days. Have a closer look at these October 1st releases after the jump then pre-order yours from Overkill.
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The most recent Sneaker News headline referencing New Balance’s 1988 flagship runner was one of Nash (Money)’s crazy hybrid designs Frankensteining a Visvim FBT upper onto the sole of a spring 2012 NB 1500 release. That collection’s successors are almost ready for introduction, their classically styled suede and mesh uppers almost too perfect to even consider altering. Purple and green New Balance 1500s that first popped up at Bread & Butter Berlin this January are still on target as a FA12 drop, and you can see more of both of these July 2nd releases after the jump, before pre-ordering yours from Overkill.
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The New Balance 991 is one of that brand’s classics that’s about as close as you can get to ‘technical’ while still maintaining that iconic old school suede-and-mesh vibe, and though these latest pairs are more leather-leaning, they manage another way to connect with the wardrobe friendly NB steez. These NB991s were all ‘Made in UK’ with the Italian market in mind, but it looks like small numbers of these finely crafted designs will arrive at select retailers around the world. Each pair is slightly different in its blocking and material distribution, so have a closer look below, let us know which pair you’re most likely to buy and stick with Sneaker News for release info. via HS
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