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

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 2 hours
225

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 8 hours
435

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
361

New Balance Enters A “Dream State” On The 2002R

The New Balance 2002R has been flexing its seasonal range as of late, with several recently-released options featuring Cordura and GORE-TEX materials holding folks over...

By Andrew Rizzo January 14, 2025
624

New Balance Adds Fiery Accents To The “Great Plains” 9060

Simple and versatile colorways have made the New Balance 9060 a mainstream sensation, but that’s not to say the Boston brand is afraid to bring...

By Andrew Rizzo January 14, 2025
429

Split Blocking Shines Again On The New Balance 1000 “Dark Ice Wine”

With a bit of help from cherished collaborators Joe Freshgoods and Teddy Santis, the New Balance 1000 reintroduced itself well in 2024, now firmly planted...

By Matt Varga January 13, 2025
475

The New Balance 1000 Has Entered Its Metallic Era

Now very much a part of New Balance’s retro line-up, the 1000 silhouette looks to be entering a new phase in the new year: metallic....

By Sneaker News January 13, 2025
1229

Where To Buy The Jjjjound x New Balance 993 “Mushroom”

The masters of minimal are bringing their mastery into 2025 with their latest collaboration with New Balance. Jjjjound has officially announced the release information for...

By Sneaker News January 13, 2025
5084

Earthy Suedes Wrap The New Balance 2002R

Even though it’s been supplanted by the 1906R as New Balance’s most popular tech runner, the New Balance 2002R is still a staple at retailers...

By Andrew Rizzo January 11, 2025
442