Sneaker News For the foraging hobbyists out there, you’ll know that there are few things more coveted than the morel mushroom, fickle in its growing environment but arguably all the more remarkable for that exact rarity. With their second collab take on the New Balance Numeric 480, Premier connects the delicacy and skateboarding, bringing its aesthetics onto the lowkey silhouette.
In the brand’s own words, the theme here mirrors how “like the morels, when the snow ahead melts away, we return to our familiar weathered Michigan skate spots.” The embrace of the springtime foraging gem is comprehensive; on top of pinning fungi patterns on the suede overlays, a vintage botanist drawing appears on the inside of the shoebox, similarly reflected on the shoe’s interior.In kind, an autumnal palette drapes entirely over the palette, finished with a speckled gum sole underfoot. The final flourish might be the best, though, as the “N” at the midfoot and the tongue are both built out of Hyphalite, a mushroom-based leather that brings the morel from just an inspiration to a literal piece of this collab.
For New Balance’s part, this again showcases how the Numeric 480 has become their foremost collaborative canvas in the world of skateboarding. This pair marks the Michigan retailer’s second 480 collab, with additional brands like KITH and skate legends like Jeremy Fish, Natas Kaupas, and Tiago Lemos stamping the model as well.
The Premier New Balance 480 releases on November 23rd at 11 AM ET in-store and 2 PM ET online. Retail pricing is unconfirmed at this stage, but expect something in the range of $125, the MSRP for several previous collaborations on this silo.
