New Balance
NEW BALANCE: AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY
THE BRAND'S HISTORY: A GUARANTEE OF QUALITY AND COMFORT
New Balance, one of the very first sneaker brands, was born in Massachusetts in 1906, well before Puma, Nike or Adidas, under the name of The New Balance Arch Company. William J. Riley, a shoemaker by trade, created the brand with the aim of helping people with foot problems. The first activity of the brand was, therefore, the development of shoes with orthopaedic soles designed to offer better support for the arch of the foot. The name "New Balance" was directly inspired by the shape of chickens' feet. By observing the chickens' feet, William Riley realised that their 3 points of support offered a perfect balance of weight and force distribution, which was of great help to him in the creation of his orthopaedic insoles.
The customised manufacturing applied to the famous orthopaedic insoles was naturally reflected in the development of the brand's shoes. This is why particular attention is paid to the design of the insoles and the different technologies used in them. Always with a focus on comfort, different foot widths are proposed according to the sizes available on certain models of trainers. The materials are often made from premium materials such as genuine pigskin leather, and all of the manufacturer's pairs are handmade.
A NEW REFERENCE IN THE WORLD OF RUNNING
Later, William Riley bequeathed his company to his daughter, an act that would take the American firm in a completely different direction. In 1961, New Balance released its first pair of running shoes: the New Balance Trackster, which was the first high-performance model to be offered in several widths. The rise of the sport and the democratisation of running in the 1960s was a real marketing opportunity for the brand, which gradually began to take its place in this sector, abandoning its orthopaedic insoles, but not completely. Indeed, by offering several widths of the New Balance Trackster, the brand positioned itself as a specialist in footwear and particularly in footwear comfort, thanks to the legacy of William Riley and his in-depth knowledge of orthopaedics.
In the years that followed, the brand's popularity was at its peak, thanks in part to the New York Marathon, where the brand became known around the world and was found on the feet of almost all participants.
New Balance 9060
One of the latest silhouettes to emerge from NB's creative teams, the New Balance 9060 embodies the perfect fusion of style and performance. This sneaker features an upper that is generally split between mesh and suede, but its originality lies in the futuristic style offered by its thick REVlite sole. A firm favourite with fans of the Boston-based brand, the 9060 was soon the focus of collaborations with Bricks & Wood, Joe Freshgoods and Bodega.
Its simplicity and consistently effective colourways make it the perfect pair for both sport and everyday life.
NEW BALANCE 550
Originally released in 1989, the New Balance 550 features a smooth soft leather and perforated mesh upper with a premium rubber sole. The silhouette was originally intended for the basketball court, but failed to catch on with competing trainer models such as the Air Jordan 4, which appealed more to players at the time. It was not until 2020 and the collaboration with Aimé Léon Dore of the Teddy Santis label that the retro model found its audience. Accessible, high-quality and comfortable, the vintage silhouette proliferated in successful iterations like the Red and Green colours.
New Balance 1906R
A silhouette created in 2009, the NB 1906 made its return in 2022 in a revisited version in line with one of the trendiest pairs of shoes of the moment, the 2002R. The New Balance 1906R features a mesh base with leather details and TPU inserts for added durability. It's a combination of retro and futuristic design that makes all the difference. This trendy model is also the result of collabs with GANNI, Aimé Leon Dore, thisisneverthat and Auralee.
New Balance 530
A New Balance classic since its release in the early 90s, the New Balance 530 is one of the Boston-based brand's best-known pairs. Designed primarily for running, it was reinvented in 2015 with new, more modern and more resistant materials to meet the sneaker trends of the moment.
NEW BALANCE 2002R
The New Balance 2002R, originally released in 2010, was a limited pair of shoes exclusively made in the USA, aimed at creating the perfect blend of luxury and running. But it wasn't until 10 years later, in 2020, that the model became an international success with the 2002R Peace Be The Journey collaboration by American designer Salehe Bembury. Its premium materials, comfort and affordable price instantly appealed to sneaker fans around the world. In 2021, the Boston-based manufacturer teamed up with Chinese designer Yue Wu to create the Redefined Future pack, commonly known as the Protection Pack, which introduces the Rain Cloud, Sea Salt and Phantom colourways.
COLLABORATIONS THAT REFLECT THE BRAND'S STRONG VALUES
Through its history and its specialisation in comfort and performance, New Balance conveys values of excellence, quality and innovation. Today, the brand can be found on the feet of sportsmen and women but also of streetwear lovers. New Balance has drawn on its experience in running shoes to break into the sneaker market, in particular thanks to its various sneaker collaborations which launch brand new models that hold their own beside other brands.
For example, recent collaborations for men and women with the label JJJound, the designer Joe Freshgoods or the artist Jaden Smith are available on Wethenew.
Unlike Nike or Adidas, who use ambassadors to promote their models, New Balance is more focused on the trainer itself: the design and the specificity of the shoes being the keywords. By linking its use of premium materials, its successful mix of colours and its adaptation of trends in its models, New Balance is today an established brand in the sneaker community, available for men and women!