How The New Balance 247 Became A Global Phenomenon

It’s only been four months since it debuted, but the New Balance 247 is already firmly in place as one of the most recognizable new silhouettes in the sneaker world. The popular design has already undergone a few iterations throughout its short but successful lifespan, offering the sneaker-buying community multiple options for the clean and stylish model for both men and women. From a limited edition friends and family edition, to its first collab, to a women’s-specific colorway set, the 247 is covering the globe with its versatile everyday (or 24/7) style. It’s too early for a “history” of the 247, but below you’ll find a complete recap of the shoe’s impressive timeline so far.

New Balance 247 “Friends & Family” – The New Balance 247 made its grand entrance in December 2016 with this very special edition, limited to only 247 pairs and seeded to VIP’s in the worlds of sneakers and fashion. Now coveted, the premium version in premium nubuck and neoprene features a grey and dark teal colorway, and will now be a very hard item to find. Since almost everybody that got a pair definitely liked them enough to keep them instead of flipping them, only a few have hit the resale market. The limited availability and impeccable quality of was no doubt a great way to introduce the 247 to the world.

New Balance 247 Luxe – You might have been left out when you didn’t get a pair of the friends and family 247’s, but the debut of the shoe at retail with the Luxe Pack should have had you feeling good again with its premium quality and super clean look. Crafted in premium leather and neoprene with elegant tonal colorways of tan, white, and black, these were indeed deluxe editions of the 247. The sneaker community agreed, as all pairs sold out quickly in early January, making them the hottest new sneaker of 2017.

24 Hours With The 247 – Inspired by the shoe’s name and the concept that it’s the perfect sneaker for any 24/7 on-the-go lifestyle, New Balance commissioned professional photographer Ryan Millier to take to the streets of New York City to shoot the 247 during a 24 hour period. Shooting 24 photos in 24 hours, Millier traveled across the city with the shoes modeled at landmark locations including the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, and the subway system, as well as lesser known back alleys and sidewalks. Whether in the glitz or grit of the city that never sleeps, the 247 showcased its versatile style.

The 247 Gets Sporty – After debuting in a refined Luxe construction, the 247 got sporty for its next release. Remodeled with an engineered mesh toe, synthetic nubuck paneling, and a stretch mesh bootie, the 247 Sport is the perfect combination of New Balance heritage with modern materials and style. The 247 Sport dropped in early February, and is now the most widely available version of the shoe so far. Do you have your pair yet?

Around The Globe – The 247 literally went global with another special photographic project to showcase it’s 24/7 style. The “Around The Globe” series consisted of seven professional photographers from all corners of the world—Paris, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Berlin, Chicago, Tokyo, and New York City. Each shooter used the distinct backdrop of their local environment to accentuate the everyday wearability of the New Balance 247.

The First 247 Collab – Tokyo’s mita Sneakers got the privilege of presenting the 247 in its first collaborative edition, creating the unique “Tokyo Rat” colorway. Inspired by a species of local rats that are said to never sleep—playing into the shoe’s 24/7 concept—the shoe features a hairy suede upper with a tech mesh toe and muted orange accents. Scurrying away quickly from stock after both its mita exclusive launch and later release at global retailers, the “Tokyo Rat” colorway was a huge hit, helping build even more buzz around the silhouette.

Not Forgetting Its Roots – Although a stylish modern silhouette, the 247 is designed with the DNA of a few of the most iconic retro New Balance models, including the 574, 998, and 1300. For the next release after the Sport collection, the 247 went back to its roots for a colorway set inspired by the traditional simple black, grey, navy, and white shades New Balance is known for.

International Women’s Day – The first women’s specific collection of the 247 dropped on March 4th, which coincided nicely with International Women’s Day on the 8th. Released in three colorways, the women’s collection included clean looks with a feminine lean in all-white, black/white, and a grey and mint combo, all with reflective detailing. The day honoring women across the globe just so happened to be the perfect parallel to the global appeal of the women’s 247.