New Balance

New Balance (also known simply as NB) is an American sportswear company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1906 by English-born William J. Riley, the brand is known for its comfortable, high-quality products.

Over the past 115 years, the North American institution has made its shoes in both the U.S. (Massachusetts, Maine) and U.K. (England). Since its origins as a company specializing in arch supports, the brand has enjoyed widespread popularity among runners, which began with the New Balance Trackster, the first-ever running shoe with rippled soles (1961), and continued well into the subsequent decades thanks to the New Balance 320 (1976); New Balance 990 (1982); and New Balance 1500 (1993), among others. (President Bill Clinton famously wore the pair during his presidency, which led to high sales of the model.)

Several popular New Balance shoes are rooted in performance-needs, but they’ve also gained popularity within the lifestyle space. Special collaborations with Concepts, Ronnie Fieg and Aimé Leon Dore have helped it gain footing within highly sought-after sneaker collections.

Recent years have seen the Boston-based manufacturer’s widespread popularity sky-rocket thanks to the “dad” shoe trend. In 2020, the Steve Jobs-approved New Balance 992 from 2006 experienced its first retro run since 2010. New propositions like the New Balance 327 – which debuted April 2020 in collaboration with Casablanca – have quickly garnered praise for their equal-parts heritage and modern design.

Elsewhere, NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard, who signed to the brand in 2018, has brought the company further attention, especially in the performance-basketball space. Leonard’s own signature shoe – the KAWHI – launched Fall 2020. Leonard’s sneaker has been succeeded by the Jamal Murray-endorsed TWO WXY, but much more attention had been payed to NB’s vintage basketball shoes. With the help of Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis, who was appointed Creative Director of Made in USA in April 2021, the New Balance 550 has become extremely popular.

Away from sportswear, the North American company has supported Covid-19 relief efforts with general-use face masks and footwear for healthcare workers.

New Balance

The New Balance 580 Legends Continues Its Comeback With Forest Green Suedes

Once a Japanese streetwear cult-smash, the New Balance 580 returned heavy in 2023 with a refined structure by way of a slimmer toe and reduced...

By Sneaker News January 27, 2024
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The New Balance 1906U Gives Off “Construction” Vibes

New Balance produces a wide variety of 1906R iterations, labeled with different names to differentiate specific collections and use cases. The 1906U, meaning “utility,” debuted...

By Andrew Rizzo January 26, 2024
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New Balance Stocks Shelves With Three New 860v2 Colorways

Like many trending New Balance models, the 860v2 hid in the shadows for years before reintroducing itself through a variety of collaborative efforts, most notably...

By Andrew Rizzo January 24, 2024
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The New Balance WRPD Runner Gets A “Magnet” Makeover

New Balance’s “Magnet” colorway has long been a fan favorite among diehard fans of the Boston brand, appearing notably on popular 990v4 and 2002R colorways....

By Andrew Rizzo January 22, 2024
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The Iconic “Steel Blue” Makes Its Way Onto The New Balance 580

“Steel Blue” always brings a nostalgic hit to New Balance lifestyle models, as seen through widely popular iterations of the New Balance 1300 and 990v3...

By Andrew Rizzo January 21, 2024
1981

Comme des Garçons HOMME x New Balance 860v2 Arriving This Fall/Winter 2024

Fashion show in and out, Comme des Garçons and its various imprints dominate the headlines on the sneaker collaboration front with their minimal takes on...

By Sneaker News January 20, 2024
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Another New Balance 9060 Surfaces in “Blue Agate”

New Balance continues expanding on its selection of 9060s, this time draping the silhouette in Blue Agate-colored leather over a black base. While most New...

By Andrew Rizzo January 20, 2024
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Junya Watanabe Debuts A New Balance 1906L Loafer For FW24

A second white/black colorway of the Junya Watanabe x New Balance 1906 loafer has surfaced. Photos have been shared by @tysikd on Instagram. Offering collaborative...

By Sneaker News January 19, 2024
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AURALEE Reveals New Balance 990v4 Collaborations At Paris Fashion Week

Since linking with New Balance back in 2021, AURALEE has been able to bring high character to relatively monochromatic colorways. Through their various collaborations with...

By Sneaker News January 17, 2024
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