New Balance and J. Crew are far from strangers to each other. The duo even celebrated the 10th anniversary of their partnership just last year with the release of a special edition New Balance 997. Fast forward to today—the two brands revisit the aforementioned silhouette to deliver two new colorways of the 997H.
Each pair consists of a suede body and overlays constructed of outdoor-friendly CORDURA fabric—as denoted by the CORDURA label affixed on the lateral side. The “Rain Cloud” option pairs navy overlays with hits of orange applied to the leather “N” logos and the embroidered “NB” on the mesh heel. While this light grey iteration indulges in a sporty mix of colors, the aqua “Trek” style opts for a bolder, hiking-inspired look. The “Trek” pair uses a purple midsole piece and hints of orange throughout. Additionally, it adds dark paint splatters to the midsole to further distinguish itself from its rather neutral “Rain Cloud” counterpart. Gum brown elements on the outsole round out both designs for a casual aesthetic often depicted by the two brands.
Take a closer look at the J.Crew x New Balance 997Hs below, which are available now at jcrew.com for $90.
For more NB collaborations, check out AAPE’s upcoming pack of New Balance 703s.