New Balance

New Balance (also known simply as NB) is an American sportswear company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1906 by English-born William J. Riley, the brand is known for its comfortable, high-quality products.

Over the past 115 years, the North American institution has made its shoes in both the U.S. (Massachusetts, Maine) and U.K. (England). Since its origins as a company specializing in arch supports, the brand has enjoyed widespread popularity among runners, which began with the New Balance Trackster, the first-ever running shoe with rippled soles (1961), and continued well into the subsequent decades thanks to the New Balance 320 (1976); New Balance 990 (1982); and New Balance 1500 (1993), among others. (President Bill Clinton famously wore the pair during his presidency, which led to high sales of the model.)

Several popular New Balance shoes are rooted in performance-needs, but they’ve also gained popularity within the lifestyle space. Special collaborations with Concepts, Ronnie Fieg and Aimé Leon Dore have helped it gain footing within highly sought-after sneaker collections.

Recent years have seen the Boston-based manufacturer’s widespread popularity sky-rocket thanks to the “dad” shoe trend. In 2020, the Steve Jobs-approved New Balance 992 from 2006 experienced its first retro run since 2010. New propositions like the New Balance 327 – which debuted April 2020 in collaboration with Casablanca – have quickly garnered praise for their equal-parts heritage and modern design.

Elsewhere, NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard, who signed to the brand in 2018, has brought the company further attention, especially in the performance-basketball space. Leonard’s own signature shoe – the KAWHI – launched Fall 2020. Leonard’s sneaker has been succeeded by the Jamal Murray-endorsed TWO WXY, but much more attention had been payed to NB’s vintage basketball shoes. With the help of Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis, who was appointed Creative Director of Made in USA in April 2021, the New Balance 550 has become extremely popular.

Away from sportswear, the North American company has supported Covid-19 relief efforts with general-use face masks and footwear for healthcare workers.

New Balance

Action Bronson Reveals The Baklava x New Balance 990v6 “Amazonia”

It was only a matter of time before we got another chapter in the Action Bronson New Balance relationship. With his work under the Boston...

By Matt Varga 3 hours
411

High Contrast Green & “Royal” Is In Focus For The New Balance 9060

The New Balance 9060 has truly reached a level of ubiquity, an unavoidable status that’s almost a blessing and a curse. The fact that so...

By Matt Varga January 21, 2025
421

The New Balance 9060 Looks To Spring With Lively “Indigo Moss”

The New Balance 9060 was a huge reason why the Boston brand posted record-breaking sales in 2024, appealing directly to the chunky shoe crowd with...

By Andrew Rizzo January 21, 2025
310

The #1 Ranked Auburn Tigers Get A New Balance 1000 Colorway

New Balance has been pushing all the right buttons when it comes to the 1000 model, with collaborations by KITH and Joe Freshgoods helping draw...

By Andrew Rizzo January 20, 2025
2382

The New Balance 1000 Continues “Color Dipped” Aesthetics With Three New Pairs

After a strong “rookie season” in 2024, the New Balance 1000 is now looking to repeat the success of its sibling, the New Balance 1906R,...

By Matt Varga January 20, 2025
2262

“Dried Apricot” Coats A Syrupy New Balance 2002R

Unquestionably, the two most popular models at the moment for the Boston brand are the New Balance 9060 and New Balance 1906R, the latter spawning...

By Matt Varga January 16, 2025
1043

The New Balance 1906W Makes A Colorful Introduction In “New Spruce/Light Sparrow”

The next chapter of the New Balance 1906R‘s modern legacy has officially begun. The Boston sneaker giant just released a new spinoff model called the...

By Andrew Rizzo January 15, 2025
1157

New Balance Reports Incredible 20% Revenue Growth In 2024

It’s official; 2024 was New Balance’s strongest year to date. After growing by 23% in 2023, the Boston brand has reported 20% growth in 2024,...

By Andrew Rizzo January 15, 2025
956

The New Balance 550 Re-Enters In Delicate “Reflection”

Don’t forget about the New Balance 550. While the rise of its siblings, the New Balance 9060 and New Balance 1906R, has suddenly pushed the...

By Matt Varga January 14, 2025
533