Andrew Rizzo Modern basketball shoes typically feature bright colors, but greyscale palettes simply make too much sense for New Balance. Ahead of other “Grey Day” releases scheduled for mid-May, New Balance dresses its tentpole hoop shoe in “Graphite” with pre-aged details and changes to the standard upper.
The New Balance Fresh Foam BB v2 strays drastically from its traditional makeup here; the base is crafted from only one piece of suede, complete with perforations at the quarter and tactile stripes towards the forefoot and toe. All previous colorways to date have featured a more diverse mix of mesh and leather/suede in those areas.
Given the absence of mesh, the shoes boast a reflective New Balance logo at the quarter as opposed to the oversized branding (like on the New Balance WRPD Runner) that typically appears woven through the base. Text reading “The Intelligent Choice” on the tongue produces yet another tie to classic New Balance silhouettes, often used in the brand’s marketing for the 990 series. Underfoot, the shoe’s topographic-inspired midsole sports chalked edges to evoke a slightly distressed, pre-aged look.
The New Balance Fresh Foam BB v2 “Graphite” is available now at newbalance.com for $130; see our “Where To Buy” section just ahead for direct purchase links. For more from the Boston brand, check out the latest New Balance 550 colorways.
WHERE TO BUY
New Balance Fresh Foam BB v2
US 05/01/2024 Wednesday
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Balance US | Standard | Check Site |
