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.
Shopping Links
New Balance
Salehe Bembury And New Balance Unveil Their Collaborative “Universal Communication” Pack
From Versace onward, Salehe Bembury has never slowed in momentum, consistently offering strength after strength. And by way of his next collaborative collection with New...
Stone Island And New Balance Launch Partnership With Reworked RC Elite
Arguably one of the most anticipated new collaborative partnerships of 2021 is the newfound union between Stone Island and New Balance. Announced officially in March...
Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 550 Restock Draw Open Until September 29th
Over the last year, Aimé Leon Dore has helped turn the once-archived New Balance 550 into the “it” shoe among savvy fashion enthusiasts and social...
The New Balance 1400 Returns With Made In USA Construction
Compared to, say, the 990 series or the 327, the New Balance 1400 is not the most popular kid on the block. Aside from a...
The Shrouded New Balance MTX580 GORE-TEX Goes Into Stealth Mode
The New Balance 580 rarely — if ever — sees the light of day. Back in 2019, however, the model was brought back courtesy of...
Paisley Patterns Appear On This New Balance 327
Though it now shares the spotlight with the XC-72, the New Balance 327 is still a key focus for the brand. And soon — following...
Damari Savile Puts “Culture First” With New Balance 992 Collaboration
Based in Philadelphia, Damari Saville offers made-to-measure suits that go against the grain of drab, traditional menswear. Often brimming with color, the label’s tailoring has...
New Balance XC-72 “Navy Toe” Is Arriving In October
The XC-72, New Balance’s latest silhouette, has quickly become one of the brand’s most exciting propositions. And following the collaboration with Casablanca, we can expect...
Run The Boroughs Celebrates Virgin Money London Marathon With A New Balance 991
Ahead of the Virgin Money London Marathon scheduled for October 3rd, London-based run club, Run The Boroughs, and New Balance have partnered on a special...