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 650 Appears With Bright Orange Accents

The New Balance 650, a massive beneficiary of the retro wave that the Boston brand has been on (see the New Balance 550 or New...

By Matt Varga March 6, 2024
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The New Balance 1906R Appear In Timeless “Teal/Silver”

Over its renewed lifespan, the New Balance 1906R has primarily taken to vibrant, loud looks since coming back into the NB fold in 2022. The...

By Matt Varga March 5, 2024
636

New Balance Reworks Logos On These Premium 550s

Updated March 15th, 2024: Additional images of the “Small Logo” New Balance 550s have surfaced, posted by New Balance in-house designer Yue Wu. Included in...

By Matt Varga March 5, 2024
921

The New Balance Numeric 480 Skate Shoe Gets A “Trail Pack”

New Balance has thrived within pretty much every sneaker sub-genre out there, sparking buzz in lifestyle, running, and basketball footwear circles en route to record-shattering...

By Andrew Rizzo March 4, 2024
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The New Balance 550 Embraces Its Basketball Roots With A Classic Look

When you achieve fame, it’s important not to forget your roots. That’s the essence of New Balance’s latest 550 delivery. Brought back in 2020 via...

By Andrew Rizzo March 4, 2024
588

Kith Officially Announces Their New Balance 1906R Collaboration In Two Colorways

Updated March 7th, 2024: Kith has officially announced both of their New Balance 1906R collaborations for Spring 2024. The first execution sees a soft assortment...

By Sneaker News March 4, 2024
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Joe Freshgoods Unveils His New Balance 1000 “Pink Mink” & “Black Ice”

Recently, a hodgepodge of leaked images of the New Balance 1000 has been circulating, all but pointing to an official return of the New Balance...

By Sneaker News March 4, 2024
11821

“Bubblegum Pink” Pops On The New Balance 2002R

Whether it’s because of quality materials, thoughtful design practices, or some fusion of the two, pink colorways just seem to work for New Balance. Now...

By Andrew Rizzo March 2, 2024
1516

The New Balance 550 “Sea Salt” Proudly Wear Distressed Details

The New Balance 550 is showing no signs of slowing down in 2024, continuing its run as a tentpole NB release. The unwavering demand for...

By Matt Varga March 2, 2024
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