Todd Snyder and New Balance continue their long-standing collaboration with the introduction of the 574 Legacy “Parchment & Pine” pack.

According to the menswear designer, the new styles are a “rugged luxe reimagining of one of New Balance’s most iconic silhouettes.”

Designed by Snyder with hues inspired by the holiday season, this new sneaker capsule is crafted with premium materials, and features a mix of clean leather and hairy suede uppers, complemented by a hairy suede “N” logo on the lateral sides. Other details include a lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and heel, as well as ENCAP midsole cushioning supported by a durable polyurethane rim.

When creating this pack, Snyder noted he was inspired by New York City’s Flower District during the holiday season. The “Pine” colorway is a deep evergreen, reminiscent of lush holiday foliage and freshly trimmed branches. While the “Parchment” colorway is a soft brown tone with a matte finish, evoking the parchment paper used to wrap trimmings.

Originally introduced in 1988, the 574 Legacy aims to preserve the timeless appeal of the iconic 574 sneaker model.

This latest collaboration comes as Snyder continues to release must-have shoe tie-ups. In June, Snyder teamed with gardening experts Gardenheir on a 12-piece capsule collection that ranges from clogs to smocks. The capsule features two made-in-Italy shoe styles – the aforementioned gardening clog and a leather fisherman sandal.

In May, Snyder joined forces with Sperry to update the footwear brand’s signature Authentic Original boat shoe. Dubbed the “Sperry x Todd Snyder Authentic Original,” the collaborative style boasts a luxe suede upper sourced from Charles F. Stead & Co. in Leeds, UK. 

These collabs also come as Snyder launched his first-ever mainline shoe style – the Tuscan Court sneaker – in August 2023.

As for New Balance, the brand just took home the Company of the Year award at the 2024 FNAAs on Wednesday night. Presented by Olympian Gabby Thomas and accepted by New Balance chief executive officer Joe Preston, the company couldn’t miss in 2024.

“The teamwork that is exhibited across our company is the key reason why we are here tonight,” Preston said at Wednesday’s event in NYC. “It’s a fearlessly independent mindset that we operate from being privately held that we think allows us that opportunity.”

The Todd Snyder and New Balance’s 574 Legacy “Parchment & Pine” pack retails for $120 and is now available for purchase exclusively at Todd Snyder shops and on Toddsnyder.com.

New Balance chief executive officer Joe Preston called out the brand’s strong connections with its retail partners in a speech accepting the award for company of the year at the 2024 FN Achievement Awards.

“I also want to thank our retail partners,” Preston said. “We’ve got a rich, storied history with them and we’re really respectful of the service, the reach and the experiences that you do for customers. And you’re big reason why we’re up here tonight.”

While New Balance does not parse out its wholesale sales numbers, executives have said that the channel is vital for growth. In an interview with FN in November, Preston said that wholesale partners are an “integral” part of the company’s overall strategy. In addition to large chains like Foot Locker and Academy Sports + Outdoors, Preston also called out partners in the run specialty channel, as well as various independent stores and boutiques in the lifestyle space.

After hitting $6.5 billion in sales in 2023, New Balance is currently on track to achieve well over $7 billion in sales for fiscal year 2024, a milestone it expects to hit two years earlier than initially anticipated. The privately held company has also outlined a broader goal to become a $10 billion brand by the next few years. Behind the strong results in 2024 were a series of product wins, as well as strategic investments in athlete partnerships, retail expansion and a historic deal with the WNBA.

In his speech accepting the FNAA for Company of the Year, Preston also highlighted New Balance’s community focus as a key element that makes its culture uniquely special.

“The teamwork that is exhibited across our company is the key reason why we are here tonight,” Preston said. “It’s a fearlessly independent mindset that we operate from being privately held that we think allows us that opportunity.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram. 

FNAA 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals Photos, Live Updates

View Gallery 59 Images

Gabby Thomas wins gold on the running track and on the red carpet. The Olympic medalist arrived at the 38th annual Footwear News Achievement Awards wearing a sophisticated bow-adorned outfit with black sock booties.

Thomas was on-hand to present New Balance with the Company of the Year award at the FNAAs. The Harvard grad signed a deal with the athletic brand in 2018. She won the 200 meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics wearing New Balance’s FuelCell SuperComp MD-X v3 spike.

The star sprinter was dressed up in a chic layered black ensemble with the statement-making Philippa Bow Cape from Alice + Olivia. The piece features an oversized white bow and arm slits, establishing a classically elegant aura for the athlete. Her look was set off by sheer tights and a pair of booties befitting of the December weather in New York City.

Thomas’s multi-textural boots appeared to feature suede and a sock-like knit material at the ankle. The shoes featured a pointed toe and a heel in back offering Thomas a subtle boost. She posed on the carpet alongside fellow track and field Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who settled on a similar aesthetic for the evening. She donned a lacy black dress with sheer tights and embellished black ankle boots.

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

FNAA 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals Photos, Live Updates

View Gallery 59 Images

On Dec. 4, New Balance will be honored with the Company of the Year Award at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Dec. 2 print issue about the brand’s massive successes in 2024.

New Balance is on a major winning streak.

After hitting $6.5 billion in sales in 2023, the athletic giant is currently on track to achieve well over $7 billion in sales for fiscal year 2024, a milestone it expects to hit two years earlier than initially anticipated. The privately held company has also outlined a broader goal to become a $10 billion brand by the next few years.

“We’ve had strong momentum in 2024 and it’s really been a continuation of the momentum that we’ve had coming out of COVID,” New Balance president and chief executive officer Joe Preston told FN in an interview in early November. Since 2020, New Balance has achieved more than a 20 percent growth rate in every major market across the world, the executive added.

Behind the strong results in 2024 were a series of product wins, as well as strategic investments in athlete partnerships, retail expansion and a historic deal with the WNBA. Here, New Balance executives discuss six ways the company secured big wins in 2024.

1. Sports Marketing

Between the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and a highly visible season for the WNBA, New Balance had major representation on the global athletic stage in 2024. Eighty four New Balance athletes, including gold medalists Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, competed at the Olympic Games this year. New Balance also signed NIL deals with college athletes like Cooper Flagg to build up its presence in basketball.

“Our goal, from a sports marketing standpoint, is to be the most boutique sports marketing brand in the world,” said Chris Davis, brand president and chief marketing officer at New Balance. “And with that goal, it’s all about a fewer-bigger-better approach and ensuring that the group of athletes we’re cultivating is more like a family than a roster.”

When it comes to building its rolodex of partners, the company takes an athlete-first approach. For example, a year after signing its first women’s basketball player, Cameron Brink, New Balance deepened its relationship with the WNBA this past July and signed a multiyear deal that established the brand as the official partner of the league

2. Strength in Running

The highly competitive running category was particularly strong for New Balance in 2024 and picked up even more momentum in the latter half of the year. Preston pointed to a spike in demand for the brand’s footwear platforms like Fresh Foam and Fuel Cell, as well as franchises like the Rebel. Newer releases of older running shoes, such as the 990, have also generated heat, which Preston credits to the brand’s history in running.

“If you see brands emerging and then continuing to grow, there’s usually an authenticity,” he said. “And for us, that’s rooted in our running heritage that is performance based.”

However, Davis is cautious about throwing around the “h” word. He described New Balance as a “brand with heritage” as opposed to a “heritage brand.” “That thesis is critical in sustaining both a performance and a lifestyle business, because a ‘brand with heritage’ honors its past but is relentlessly focused on innovating into the future, whereas a ‘heritage brand’ relies on its past,” Davis said.

To stay competitive, New Balance aims to drive forward innovations and new forms of storytelling across lifestyle and performance running.

“The running category is not a sprint,” Preston said. “It’s a long run. You need to be committed to it and you need to put resources against it — everything from tech reps who call on their run specialty stores and provide support to commitment to inventory and, obviously, innovation.”

3. Retail Investment

As of mid-November, New Balance had opened 72 new stores and renovated 43 stores this year, as it looks to bolster its retail presence.

“Our brick-and-mortar retail locations need to be a physical manifestation of our brand,” said Davis. “A consumer should walk into our store and feel the New Balance brand and experience the New Balance brand. And if they don’t purchase something in that instance, that is totally OK. However, they need to have a positive brand impression when they leave the location.”

According to Davis, New Balance has seen positive performance indicators in traffic, conversion and consumer sentiment since renovating its store fleet across several store expressions, including running store formats and other new store concepts.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in ensuring that our brick-and-mortar experience is brand accretive, and I think it has to be.” Davis said. “Brick-and-mortar retail is certainly not dead. We just have to think about it in a different way. We have to think about it with a brand-led vision.” In the next six to 12 months, New Balance plans to refresh its flagship stores around the globe, including in Boston, the U.K., Japan and New York City.

4. Wholesale Partnerships

While New Balance does not parse out its wholesale sales numbers, executives have said that the channel is vital for growth.

“I don’t think we can be as successful as we have been, or will be, without our wholesale partners,” Preston said. “And that’s going to continue to be an integral part of our strategy.”

Among retailers like Foot Locker and Academy Sports + Outdoors, New Balance is consistently touted as a top performer.

In August, Foot Locker chief commercial officer Frank Bracken called out the chain’s robust partnership with the brand during a second-quarter earnings call.

“Our partners at New Balance continue to engage our shared consumers with strong product innovation, compelling assets and storytelling and operational excellence to help scale the business,” Bracken said. “With multiple footwear franchises connecting in the marketplace and a commitment to sport, lifestyle and streetwear, we are confident that we will continue to grow with this important partner.”

And it’s not just the large retail partners that are driving growth in the channel. Preston called out New Balance’s presence in the run specialty channel, as well as in various independent stores and boutiques in the lifestyle space.

Kris Hartner, owner and founder of Naperville Running Co., has worked with the brand for the last decade on a branded section in the basement of one of his stores designed to serve young athletes. The space, which features a pool table, X-Box and more, is available for team nights and shoe fittings.

“They’ve been great partners of ours,” Hartner said of New Balance. “They have their ‘Fiercely Independent’ tagline and we are that to a T. If there’s a vendor that we could say is similar to us, it would probably be New Balance. They’re not mom-and-pop size, but they’re mom-and-pop owned.”

5. Global Activations

New Balance does 35 percent of its business in North America and the rest in countries around the globe. According to Preston, the company utilizes a “think global, but act local” approach to grow its business in different regions. The goal is for 80 percent of brand messaging and expression to be the same across all regions, with about 20 percent given for leeway with specialization based on the region.

“We make sure we have those inputs coming in from the regions, and then we try to satisfy as much as we possibly can, while keeping in line with our brand roots and the authenticity that we instill on everything that we do,” Preston said.

For example, the brand recently debuted a new premium retail concept with its new store opening in Edinburgh, Scotland, this past September. The store was designed with central seating areas to promote engagement and features a curated selection of core lifestyle products, as well as premium Made in UK and Made in USA collections.

On the product side, New Balance released a five-sneaker “City Exclusives” pack in August, a collection where each shoe pays homage to a key region in the brand’s legacy and is only available in its respective region. For example, the Baltimore style was released exclusively at Social Status, the Shanghai model was available in the city’s NB Grey store, and the Tokyo rendition was available at Atmos Japan.

6. Focus on Its Community

Even amid its global expansion, New Balance takes pride in being one of the few shoe brands with factories in the U.S. The brand operates six facilities in America, with a plan to merge two in Maine into one larger and more modern factory.

“When we go into a community, we stay in a community,” Preston said. “It’s really important for us, not just from a quality perspective, but also about the importance that these factories can have to a community.”

According to Preston, the community focus is also what makes the New Balance team uniquely special. “Our secret sauce is our people and our culture, and it’s all centered around teamwork,” he said. “Our culture and the way our associates take care of each other is inspiring. When I look back someday on my career here, that is what I’ll be most proud of.”

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

An up-and-coming designer known for creative footwear concepts and other pop culture-inspired projects has turned Apple’s nondescript sneaker emoji into a real-life shoe. 

Designer Jose Wong’s ABCD brand launched the Shoe 1 sneaker last week, selling the emoji-referencing sneaker for $219.90 after a series of social media teasers throughout November. The concept sees the unbranded Apple athletic shoe emoji turned into the real deal.

The ABCD Shoe 1 mixes full-grain nubuck leather with mesh on its upper and combines EVA foam and polyurethane on the midsole. But it’s the sneaker’s design, a drab gray-and-white retro running shoe with two diagonal stripes in place of a brand logo, that connects it to the digital icon. 

Apple’s sneaker emoji is in essence a distilled version of the New Balance 574 sneaker. Conceptualized in 1988 as a takedown version of the 576 model created by storied sneaker designer Steven Smith, the New Balance 574 soon became one of the brand’s most ubiquitous shoes. It combined elements of previous New Balance designs in order to serve as a less-expensive version of the 576, which resulted in a sub-$100 price tag that helped boost its success. 

Smith caught wind of the emoji-turned-real-life-sneaker and commented that he “needs a pair” on Wong’s Instagram. Around the same time, Smith took to his own Instagram account to do a bit of bragging. “Yeah, just the sneaker emoji based off my design- what have you done? GOAT mode,” he wrote Tuesday.

Beyond the 574 and 576, Smith’s work includes numerous iconic New Balance models such as the 997 and 1500. Often referred to as the “godfather of the dad shoe,” Smith is also responsible for influential 1990s designs such as the Reebok InstaPump Fury and the Nike Air Streak Spectrum Plus. Today’s footwear fans may be more familiar with his work on the Yeezy line including the Yeezy Boost 700. Most recently, Smith was named head of creative innovation at Crocs Inc.

The ABCD Shoe 1 is currently sold out and the product page has been removed from the brand’s website. Given that it was a preorder, the shoe has also yet to populate on resale platforms, but readers can likely expect pairs to surface soon after the shoes begin shipping. 

With Black Friday passed and the holiday shopping window fully open, the sneaker giants are duking it for your attention in a month packed with high-profile releases.

Be they retro Air Jordans, flame-riddled Nike runners or a divisive sneaker-loafer hybrid from New Balance, December is shaping up to be a strong end of the year for kicks. Lil Yachty will get his first release through a special Air Force 1 Low, while a Kobe Bryant tribute will also decorate the same model. Fear of God is set to debut its second Basketball sneaker from Adidas, and the Brand With Three Stripes will also unveil the modernized Adizero SL72 through a collaboration with Bad Bunny. And of course, we can’t forget one last Travis Scott release to get the people going.

Below, Footwear News breaks down all the best sneaker releases coming in December. You can also find a list of every Air Jordan, as well as the best Adidas sneakers and best Nike sneakers, at the respective links.

Puma Inhale “Color Shift” Pack

Release Date: December 1
Price: $130
SKU: 401665-01, 401665-02
Puma’s experimentation with the recently revived Inhale sneaker sees it transformed with iridescent colorways in purple and green.

Lil Yachty x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Concrete Boys”

Release Date: December 2
Price: $130
SKU: IB5720-100
Lil Yachty’s first sneaker to release to the public follows a lineage of rap label Air Force 1s that include Jay-Z and Fat Joe.

New Balance 1906 Loafer “Black”

Release Date: December 4
Price: $160
SKU: U1906LAI
New Balance’s sold-out 1906 Loafer returns in all-black treatment for the second colorway confirmed for December.

Nike Air Foamposite One “Copper”

Release Date: December 4
Price: $240
SKU: FZ9902-001
One of the most beloved Foamposite One colorways hits stores again for the first time since 2017.

Nike Alphafly 3 “Ekiden”

Release Date: December 4
Price: $285
SKU: HQ3501-100
Nike’s annual Ekiden collection nods to another from more than 20 years ago by decking out four runners, including the Swoosh’s premier super shoe, in flames.

Nike SB Dunk Low “Wizard of Oz”

Release Date: December 5
Price: $135
SKU: FZ1291-600
An official “Wizard of Oz” collaboration following the highly anticipated release of “Wicked” includes a wear-away upper to invoke ruby slippers.

Swarovski x Nike Air Max Plus

Release Date: December 5
Price: $450
SKU: FZ4237-001, FZ9042-001
Two Air Max Plus variants take different approaches to color and the application of Swarovski crystals, with the black pair being exclusive to Foot Locker.

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Kobe”

Release Date: December 6
Price: $130
SKU: FZ1151-100
This Kobe Bryant tribute pays homage to a similar pair he wore during his brief period of sneaker free agency between Adidas and Nike.

Curry Fox 1 “Happy Fox Day”

Release Date: December 6
Price: $120
SKU: 3028807-419
A new era for Curry Brand and Under Armour begins with the Curry Fox 1, which makes Aaron Fox the first person not named Steph to get a Curry sneaker.

Puma MB.04 “Phoenix”

Release Date: December 6
Price: $125
SKU: 311308-01
LaMelo Ball’s signature basketball has never shown any shyness for color, but this edition of his fourth model still manages to stand out for its boldness.

Fear of God x Adidas Basketball 2 High and Mid “Night Brown”

Release Date: December 6
Price: TBD
SKU: JQ8482, JS0977
Fear of God’s second Adidas Basketball shoe is intended to hold up better on the court and has already been seen at the NBA level.

Air Jordan 5 “Reverse Metallic”

Release Date: December 7
Price: $200
SKU: DD0587-110
A new and clean Air Jordan 5 colorway that will quickly gain fans.

Nike Zoom GT Hustle 3 “Paige Bueckers”

Release Date: December 7
Price: $190
SKU: HJ7679-900
With the release of her PE, Paige Bueckers becomes the first college athlete to ever get a Nike release.

New Balance 1906 Loafer “Magnet”

Release Date: December 11
Price: $160
SKU: U1906LAF
New Balance’s third 1906 Loafer deviates from monochrome themes with a tough mix of brow, grey and blue.

Stash x Nike Air Force 1 Low, Air Max 95

Release Date: December 13
Price: $160, $200
SKU: HF5516-001, HF5515-400
Stash’s highly collectible Air Max 95 and Air Force 1 duo from 2006 makes its first-ever return, albeit with a few changes that include plays at better waterproofing.

Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue”

Release Date: December 14
Price: $230
SKU: CT8012-104
Jordan Brand’s tradition of holiday Air Jordan 11 colorways now brings back the colorway Michael Jordan wore for the ’96 All-Star game and which also represents his University of North Carolina.

Adidas Anthony Edwards 1 Low “Christmas”

Release Date: December 14
Price: $110
SKU: JI4070
An shimmery blue treatment for Anthony Edward’s hit signature sneaker release could be one of two made for Christmas, with an even more colorful edition having leaked previously with the same SKU.

Bad Bunny x Adidas Adizero SL72

Release Date: December 15
Price: TBD
SKU: JP8816, JP8815, JQ8757
Adidas has tapped Bad Bunny to debut its modernized SL72, which features an Adizero sole unit for better comfort than you’d otherwise find on a more than 50-year-old sneaker.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Velvet Brown”

Release Date: December 21
Price: $150
SKU: DM7866-202
Travis Scott’s love of browns and the Air Jordan 1 Low collide on what could be the last blackbuster sneaker release of 2024.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Update: Nov. 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET:

Months after a New Balance 993 collaboration was quietly teased in a lookbook for its Levi’s collection, Montreal creative agency JJJJound has unveiled the new project, confirming that it will include two different colorways.

In addition to the style seen in the Levi’s lookbook, JJJJound will bring back what is arguably its most popular colorway: the gray look it has previously used on New Balance’s 990v3, 992 and 991 sneakers.

While similar, the two shoes feature key differences. The gray style uses a white/cream midsole and a reflective silver tongue, while the previously seen keeps its two-tone look consistent with a black midsole and black suede tongue.

Both of the JJJJound x New Balance 993 sneakers are part of the sportswear brand’s made in USA line, which includes footwear with a minimum of 70 percent of its manufacturing done domestically.

The official colorway names for the pairs are “Military Urban Gray/Angora” (SKU U993JJ) and “Military Urban Gray/Black” (SKU U993JD).

An exact release date and pricing have not yet been announced, but both pairs are expected to be launched in December from jjjjound.com. Readers can expect more details soon.

What We Originally Reported on Aug. 29, 2024

These days, rollouts for collaborative sneakers are as lavish as ever; multi-month bouts of anticipation, short film advertisements and quirky campaigns are the norm. But every now and then, a brand will sneakily sprinkle in a teaser for an upcoming product, and that’s exactly what it looks like JJJJound is up to here.

In a lookbook shoot for its second JJJJound x Levi’s collection, launching September 6, the Montreal-based creative studio subtly included a previously unseen footwear project. Based on the teaser, it looks like a JJJJound x New Balance 993 is in the works which mimics the duo’s previous work on 2022’s 990v3 release. 

The brown hues of that pair appear a bit more muted and olive-leaning on the 993, but otherwise the two collaborations follow the same blueprints. Both shoes don solid black midsoles, earth tone suede-and-mesh uppers, and contrasting black accents which break up the drab upper. 

It is this simplistic yet nuanced formula that fans have come to expect from JJJJound, which has delivered a number of coveted New Balance collaborations since the brand’s first project together, a gray 990v4, in 2018.

And speaking of that first JJJJound x New Balance 990v4 collaboration, a similar looking pair was also featured in the Levi’s lookbook. However, based on its weathered appearance, it’s likely this pair is an original from ’18 rather than an upcoming release.

JJJJound was founded by Justin R. Saunders and began in 2006 as a self-described “digital mood board.” A popular Tumblr blog throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, the brand evolved into the design studio it’s known as today.

Aside from New Balance, JJJJound has collaborated with a number of footwear brands including A Bathing Ape, Adidas, Asics, Blackstock & Weber, Crocs, Dr. Martens, Padmore & Barnes, Puma, Reebok, ROA and Vans.

As for the JJJJound x New Balance 993, it’s likely that the project will be announced soon and released during the fall 2024 season. Readers can check back here for updates including confirmed release and pricing details.

New Balance Numeric, the Boston-based sportswear company’s skateboarding arm, has treated its 480 sneaker to a number of noteworthy collaborations this year including projects with artist Jeremy Fish and Denver shop 303 Boards, classic skate brand Chocolate Skateboards and most recently, Ronnie Fieg’s Kith. Before 2024 is over, the Numeric 480 is getting at least one more collab, this time courtesy of Michigan skate shop Premier. 

The Premier x New Balance Numeric 480 is inspired by the elusive morel mushroom (aka Morchella) and the sneaker mimics the look of the fungi delicacy throughout its design. The leather upper has been debossed with the honeycomb-like pattern of the morel and the color palette leans on the mushroom’s earthy tones, but Premier didn’t stop there. The shoe’s “N” logo and tongue tag use HyphaLite TC, a plant-based leather-like material which is actually developed using mushrooms. 

“As the last frosts retreat and the spring undergrowth pushes through, a rare and sought-after delicacy reveals itself,” reads Premier’s product description. “Camouflaged in the leaves and ground cover, the morel mushroom is a wild forager’s secret, only appearing for a short time in its natural environment and commonly near where it sprouted the season before. Like the morels, when the snow ahead melts away, we return to our familiar weathered Michigan skate spots, this time with a collaborative New Balance Numeric 480 on our feet.”

Ripe with details, the Premier x New Balance Numeric 480 “Morel” includes a custom box with morel art and a mesh bag which can be used for foraging. 

The Premier x New Balance Numeric 480 “Morel” will be released Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. ET in-store followed by a 2 p.m. ET launch on thepremierstore.com. The collaboration retails for $130 and will be available in men’s sizes 4 through 14. 

Aimé Leon Dore is pulling double duty on the number 993, as it’s designed both a custom Porsche and a New Balance sneaker bearing the same name.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 993 Made in USA has been made to match the custom Porsche 993 Turbo made in promotion of a broader collection. Forest green graces the majority of the suede, leather and mesh sneaker — the same color used for the car’s body. Gold branding hits, as well as the sockliner, match that of the vehicle’s own, while more scant detailing brown serves as a link to the Porsche’s interior. Although only a few photos of the sneaker has been shared, it also appears that ALD’s signature floral logo will grace the heel.

Aimé Leon Dore is about as familiar with Porsche as it is New Balance. The New York City based label has produced dozens of sneakers since it began working with New Balance in 2019, and it’s now showing its fourth bespoke restoration of a Porsche in a partnership that began in 2020. Teddy Santis, ALD’s founder, has also been the creative director of New Balance’s Made in USA line since 2021.

With the Aimé Leon Dore x Porsche capsule just a day away from releasing, details of the collection are still relatively sparse. Lookbook images do, however, show items including jackets, sweaters, hats and even jeans.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 993 Made in USA is expected to release alongside the larger Porsche capsule Friday, November 22, through Aimé Leon Dore’s website and stores. Porsche Design of America and its Beverly Hills store will also have select items from the collection, and the 993 Turbo at hand will be on display November 22 and 23 at ALD’s flagship store. Pricing for the sneakers has yet to be announced, but the 993 Made in USA typically retails for $200 or more.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

After a rapid sell-out to ring in the 1906 Loafer’s debut in silver, New Balance is bringing back its polarizing silhouette in black.

The New Balance 1906 Loafer “Black/Phantom” will release at the beginning of December. The entirety of the mesh and leather sneaker-loafer hybrid is rendered in black, with only the 1906L branding beneath the collar deviating in silver. A glossy TPU heel counter mixes up the finish, but the treatment stays relatively simple.

Junya Watanabe unveiled the 1906’s transformation into a loafer at the beginning of the year at Paris Fashion Week, immediately drawing feedback as loud as it was polarizing. Many have praised the blend of aesthetics benefiting from the comfort of sneakers while others have seen the 1906L as a step too far in experimentation. Regardless of the mixed reviews, though, New Balance’s initial release for the silhouette had no problem selling out expediently. Junya’s all-black version has also sold out at a higher price, while it’s white and black variant can still be found in select sizes.

The 1906 series, particularly the 1906R, has been a runaway hit for New Balance since its return in 2022. The shoe originally debuted in 2009 and was brought back as the 1906R 13 years later with a sole unit borrowed from the 860v2. Other spin-offs have included the distressed 1906D and more trail-influenced 1906U, short for “utility.”

The 1906L, meanwhile, has come as many men have broadened the type of footwear in their rotation, including loafers and mules.

The New Balance 1906 Loafer in “Black/Phantom” will release December 5 through New Balance’s website and select-third party retailers. Pricing is set at $160.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.