Sneaker News Mismatched, alternating color-blocking has become a calling card for Japan’s BEAMS, a trend emphatically evident in their New Balance collaborations of recent memory. It’s a style that’s been executed to near-perfection with their New Balance 1500 & 920 with Paperboy, and even their standalone work with the New Balance 996. Now, they’ve diverted their focus to the 550 model, presented here in all its glory.
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of indigo dip-dyeing and how it can create beautifully inconsistent colors, BEAMS treats the late-1980s basketball retro model with varying hits of blue shades. The left shoe contrasts heavily with the lighter and dark shades, while the right shoe achieves it more subtly. Worn together, it’s an unmistakeable BEAMS work that will carry on their impressive reputation as they work on future collaborative sneaker projects.
These will be exclusive to BEAMS; they’re up for pre-order now directly from their Japan-based website.
