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

New Balance Brings Out The 997R In “Navy” And “Arctic Gray”

Despite being brought back a number of ways over the course of the last few years, the New Balance 997 never quite caught on. But...

By Michael Le June 15, 2023
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The New Balance 997R Debuts Overseas In “Shadow Grey”

The New Balance 997R, a remastered version of the popular NB 997 silhouette, is yet to launch globally, but it’s ready to take over. As...

By Jovani Hernandez June 15, 2023
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First Look At The New Balance 997R

The 2002R and 1906R were evidently just the beginning for New Balance. Soon, even the 997 — which is currently only available as a kids...

By Michael Le May 11, 2023
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Bodega Re-Releases Their Entire New Balance 997S “Days” Trilogy In Honor Of 15th Anniversary

Though already well-celebrated with many a collaboration, Bodega‘s 15th anniversary is about to close with an even bigger bang. Rather than simply reminisce about what...

By Michael Le September 3, 2021
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New Balance And J.Crew Team Up Again For A Duo Of New Balance 997Hs

New Balance and J. Crew are far from strangers to each other. The duo even celebrated the 10th anniversary of their partnership just last year...

By Jasmine Tang August 21, 2021
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The New Balance 997 Joins The Well-Suited “Plaid Pack”

To celebrate the 14th anniversary of their online store, New Balance Japan took the 1300 and dressed it fully in plaid fabrics. And though it...

By Michael Le February 17, 2021
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Todd Snyder And New Balance’s “Triborough 997” To Launch In Three Colorways

With several collaborations over the past four years, Todd Snyder and New Balance have been consistently tapping into their nostalgic senses for new footwear releases....

By Jasmine Tang December 21, 2020
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Shoe Palace Honors The Great White Shark And Its Hunting Grounds With The New Balance 997S

Shoe Palace once again honors the cultural landmarks of its origins with their latest collaboration release with New Balance. Focusing on the 997S silhouette, the...

By Sneaker News October 27, 2020
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New Balance Offers Up A 997 With A Southwestern Palette

As if it hadn’t already made a strong case for itself as “Sneaker Brand of the Year,” New Balance is closing out 2020 with notable...

By Jovani Hernandez October 2, 2020
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