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.
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New Balance
The Women’s New Balance 550 Surfaces In “White/Mauve”
Unless things change drastically over the course of the next few weeks, the New Balance 550 stands to be one of the biggest shoes of...
The New Balance 550 Readies For Summer In “Angora/Copper”
New Balance just dropped a fresh New Balance 550 colorway ahead of summer, furnishing a contemporary palette on a new women’s pair. The design fits...
The New Balance 550 “Sashiko Pack” Is Available Now
Though the New Balance 550 is only a few years into its renewed run, the sheer demand and resulting supply has expedited its life cycle....
The New Balance 550 “Sea Salt” Pack Reflects On Aimé Leon Dore’s Collaborations
Since its introduction to the market by Aimé Leon Dore in late 2020, the New Balance 550 has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity, only...
“Linen” Tones Hit A Shaggy Suede New Balance 550
Still functioning as the crux of the NB line three years into its renewed life cycle, Boston designers have started taking more risks with the...
The Women’s New Balance 550 “Linen” Lands In Stores Soon
The New Balance 550 keeps surfacing in new styles, picking up different materials, design themes, and color blocking patterns across a huge selection of widely...
A Trio Of Monochromatic New Balance 550s Arrives Soon
The New Balance 550 is showing no signs of slowing down, still arguably the biggest driver for the streetwear takeover New Balance is in the...
New Balance 550 Golf Shoes Are Coming Soon
In the late 1980s, the New Balance 550 began its journey on the hardwood floor as a basketball shoe. In 2021, it became a mainstay...
Gum Soles And Wide Mesh Treat A Sporty New Balance 550 In “Slate Grey”
The New Balance 550 has worn countless looks ranging from animal print to Bapesta-inspired patent leather, but its core ethos will always be rooted in...