The Whitaker Group x New Balance 1906U “Willful Bias” Collection Is Coming Soon

The Whitaker Group, parent company of brands like A Ma Maniére and Social Status, continues to grow its collaborative sneaker catalog with two fresh takes on the New Balance 1906U.

Although better know by its subsidiaries, James Whitner’s award-winning retail conglomeration has put its imprint on a New Balance shoe before. The Whitaker Group x New Balance 9060 “Missing Pieces” capsule from last year is responsible for two of the most sought-after 9060 colorways to date, with grey market asking prices set well above retail.

Officially dubbed the “Willfull Bias” collection, Whitner and company now unleash their streetwear aesthetic on yet another trending silhouette by the Boston brand. The utility-minded version of the New Balance 1906R appears in “Steel” and “Shadow Grey” colorways here, switching up their material compositions so as to provide a well-balanced duo.

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The “Steel” colorway is something you might expect out of a Floridian collaborator, as teal sock lining, New Balance branding, and midsole accents are balanced out by orange hits in a Miami Dolphins-worthy display. The vibrant colors are complemented by metallic silver overlays, grey and navy blue leathers, and a grey mesh base underneath, comprising a true neck-breaker of a shoe.

Meanwhile, the “Shadow Grey” pair takes a drastically different approach. Here we see a tonal ensemble of grey suede and leather wrap the upper, with a fabric base layer replacing the model’s typical synthetics. Yellow hits on the midsole, heel pull tab, and border of the New Balance logo add a bit of intrigue, as crimson red paint towards the rear. Not without special branding, both shoes come with a square “WB” logos on the tongue, script text reading “Willful Bias” on the inner tongue tag, and screen printed insoles with elaborate graphics.

The Whitaker Group x New Balance 1906U “Willful Bias” collection officially launches July 19th, with each shoe priced at $170. Raffles by A Ma Maniére and Social Status are open now until July 16th, and the shoes will release broadly on amamaniere.com and A Ma Maniére stores on the 19th. See the respective “Where To Buy” sections below to get your entries in.