New Balance M574 – China Mask Limited

The Beijing Olympics are arguably the biggest event of 2008, being anevent with far-reaching appeal to all corners of the globe. The primary focus of the games, of course, is China, who has become the focus of the international community due to its hosting of the games themselves. Naturally, the streetwear and sneaker industries have seized upon this international focus on all things Chinese for their releases this summer, and this China Mask Limited pack of M574’s from New Balance continues that trend nicely. Based on the Chinese “Peking Opera,” these kicks are based around the masks used in said traditional Chinese operas, and come in four colorways, with the M574 LE model being the most limited of the lot. The LE’s have one red and one green shoe, with a mask pattern on the toebox, and some tasteful color contrasts. The other three come in Orange, Green, and Red colorways, with Chinese themed prints accenting the mask making up the background of the signature New Balance “N.” The actual in-store drop date for these kicks seems to be August 23rd; while the LE’s are sold out online at this time, you can still order the other three pairs online at Atmos.

More photos below…