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.

When Timberland and Aimé Leon Dore team up, they don’t miss.

For their fourth collaboration, the brands have come together to create two colorways — “Brown Full Grain” and “Black Full Grain” — of the Mid Lace-Up GTX Boot for the fall, a fresh take on Timberland’s Heritage Moc Toe silhouette. According to a statement, this marks the first time the Timberland GTX Heritage Moc Toe style has been re-released since its introduction in 1991.

The uppers of the boots are constructed using premium full grain leather. More specifically, the brown look is embossed with a crocodile texture, whereas the black features a stingray emboss. Both boots include peccary-embossed nubuck collars that are accented by a soft, hairy suede.

The boots are also lined with the waterproof Gore-Tex membranes and feature EVA footbeds, comfort-focused padded leather collar and rubber lug outsoles for traction. Also, they include custom lace keeper hardware a keychain featuring the Queens Crest branding.

The two Timberland x Aimé Leon Dore Mid Lace-Up GTX Boots are available now via Aimé Leon Dore’s locations in New York City and London, as well as online via Aimeleondore.com and Timberland.com. The boots retail for $195 each.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

In the age of resale platforms like GOAT and StockX, some enthusiasts place merit solely on a shoe’s resale value. To many, if a sneaker doesn’t “flip” (resell for a premium), it’s a “brick” (destined to collect dust on shelves). But what if a trending footwear brand got together with an equally buzzy streetwear label and made a sneaker that wasn’t intended to sell out?

Aimé Leon Dore and New Balance released their latest collaboration, the 475, in two colorways on Sept. 20. An updated version of a 1986 New Balance model, the 475 features suede and mesh materials with pre-aged, cracking heel tabs and chain stitched “N” logos.

They’re priced at $150 and as of publishing, nearly every size in both colors are still available from Aimé Leon Dore’s website. GOAT and StockX show little demand for the shoes; only a handful have been sold on the marketplaces, and current bids are paltry if not nonexistent.

And that’s all by design, according to New Balance brand president and chief marketing officer Chris Davis. 

“The 475 with New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore wasn’t created to generate lines outside of stores, or after market price inflation,” Davis wrote Monday on LinkedIn. “It was made as an aspirational daily staple. A product that goes with anything, to subtly elevate your everyday style. It’s not always about the hype, but can be about creating a timeless classic that allows consumers to participate in your brand at a realistic level.”

While the concept of an almost-always-available sneaker collab is new territory for the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance partnership, other brands have experimented with the idea in recent years. In 2020, longtime partners Supreme and Nike started releasing Air Force 1 Lows in black and white, and the pairs are regularly restocked in stores and online. 

“Whether we like it or not, hype culture has pigeon-holed co-authored product collections into an ultra limited, sometimes obsessive phenomenon that can oftentimes leave your brand loyalists just as disappointed as they are elated,” Davis wrote. “There has to be room to create superior product that represents both effortless wearability and availability.”  

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 475 is available now from aimeleondore.com for $150.

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Aimé Leon Dore is returning to the sneaker that was the subject of its very first New Balance collaboration.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 997 Made in USA “Dark Moss” and “Grey” colorways were teased in ALD’s lookbook for fall 2024 and are expected to release in November. Both sneakers have elements in green and burgundy, essentially packed in options for dark or light variants.

The upper for the “Dark Moss” edition is dominated by leather in its namesake color, which matches the outsole beneath a white midsole. A deep burgundy can be made out around the collar, while the tongue pops in yellow. Suede then decorates “Grey” variant, which also features suede accents in olive to match the outsole and a brighter red around the collar.

Both sneakers were worn by lookbook star Mach Hommy, the mysterious New Jersey rapper without a social media presence and who’s rarely seen without a mask.

The 997 has been kept in New Balance’s archives since 2019, not counting retooled variants such as the 997H or 997S, until this year, as a few new colorways are expected to release soon. The running shoe made its debut in 1991 and introduced a new moulded technique in which ENCAP and C-Cap cushioning tech are featured in the same midsole. New Balance has produced the 997 in the U.S. since the jump, helping to make it one of the brand’s most beloved silhouettes.

Aimé Leon Dore released two coordinating colorways for the 997 Made in USA in 2019 for its debut New Balance collaboration. Each has sold for more than $1,000 on the resale market, including up to $3,000 for the pink-tongued variant, making them the most valuable of ALD’s NB sneakers.

New Balance has since made Aimé Leon Dore its most frequent collaborator, and ALD founder Teddy Santis is now the creative director of the company’s Made in USA line, which makes the forthcoming capsule a sort-off Santis x Santis collab.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 997 Made in USA in “Dark Moss” and “Grey” will release in November. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, and this post will be updated as more information becomes available.

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.

Aimé Leon Dore is prioritizing accessibility for its latest New Balance collaboration.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2 is available for pre-order in three colorways. Anyone who wants a pair can reserve theirs now, with shipping to be fulfilled in February or March 2025.

ALD’s take on the 860v2 consists of three distinct variants. A red-dominant pair features reflective silver accents as well as hits of black, silver and off-white. A white and green pair also makes use of reflective silver, as well as black and grey. The most complex of the trio arrives with a mix of blues forming the majority of the upper and accented by yellow, red, green, reflective silver, off-white and black.

All three colorways feature an “Aimé Leon Dore” text hit on the tongue, and the brand’s signature floral motif appears on the heel.

Aimé Leon Dore has previously released six other colorways for the 860v2, beginning with three in spring 2023 and another trio a year later. Both of those releases also followed the pre-order model rather than a drawing or first come, first served — making the 860v2 one of ALD’s most widely available sneakers.

The model was originally released in 2012 as an updated version of the running series that began a year prior, with the Fresh Foam 860v14 being the latest iteration. New Balance kept the 860v2 in its archives until 2020, when it was brought back as a lifestyle sneaker that’s been subject to a number of collaborations and part of the “dad shoe” trend that’s helped the brand soar in popularity.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2 in “Red,” “White and Green” and “Blue” are available through pre-order right now exclusively through ALD’s website. Pricing is set at $150.

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.

Following a month of teasers, Aimé Leon Dore has opened a drawing for its trio of New Balance 1000 sneakers.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 will release this week in three colorways: silver, black and white. Monochromatic looks unite each edition, which comes with a premium leather upper with reflective detailing. An “aimé” metal hangtag matches a debossed mark near the lateral toe and an embroidery hit on the tongue. The white and silver editions also feature a translucent “N” logo at midfoot, while the black variant opts for a glossy and opaque rendition to coordinate with its patent leather overlays. Each pair will also come with three sets of laces.

Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis, a proud Queens native, first previewed his New Balance 1000 in white along with the caption, “It’s summer of ’98 in Astoria, Queens, and I just discovered Steinway Street.”

The New Balance 1000 dates back to 1999, and although its Y2K aesthetic is firmly on trend now, the sneaker didn’t make much noise in original run. Joe Freshgoods, another key New Balance collaborator, brought back the silhouette for the first time earlier this year with a capsule of two colorways under the name “When Things We’re Pure” invoking the early 2000s.

The Aimé Leon Dorex New Balance 1000 in “Silver,” “White” and “Black” are now available through raffle entries on Aimé Leon Dore’s website. The drawing will close at 11:59 p.m. EST Wednesday, June 5, with winners to be notified in the days after. New Balance will also release the “White” version May 20, and at least one of the colorways should be available through other retailers as well. Pricing for each sneaker is set at $165.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending 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.

Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis has teased a second iteration of his label’s New Balance 1000.

In addition to a white and silver iteration, the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 will release an all-black colorway featuring patent leather overlays. The premium leather gives the sneaker an unmissable sheen, while “Aimé” branding pops out in white near the lateral toe. A mesh base sits beneath the patent leather, while to toe cap appears to be made of a glossless leather.

New Balance just revived its 1000 model this year, beginning with a collaboration with frequent partner Joe Freshgoods. The sneaker debuted in 1999 and is emblematic of the Y2K-era running shoe trend dominating sneakers the landscape at the moment. But unlike many other New Balance models trending right now, the 1000 didn’t make much noise the first time around. It quietly receded into the brand’s archives until this year but with ALD and Joe Freshgoods as early collaborators, it’s clear New Balance has higher hopes for the 1000 today.

Santis previewed ALD’s 1000 earlier in May in the white and silver makeup. That version features a translucent “N” logo at midfoot, and the same “Aimé” text near the toe can also be seen on the tongue tag. Sneaker leakers have also suggested two more colorways will join the release, including one that makes use of green and pink.

In his Instagram story showing the other 1000 sneaker, Santis said, “It’s summer of ’98 in Astoria Queens and I just discovered Steinway St.”

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 has not yet been given a release date but will likely arrive soon now that two colorways have been shown. Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending 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.

New Balance’s recently revived 1000 sneaker will soon get a collaboration from one of the brand’s most key partners.

Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis, who’s also the lead for NB’s Made in USA line, teased his brand’s take on the New Balance 1000 Thursday in an Instagram story. The sneaker appears in a white and silver color scheme with a translucent “N” logo and ALD branding spread near the lateral toe, tongue tag and mustache.

Santis, famously a Queens native, captioned the photo with, “It’s summer of ’98 in Astoria Queens and I just discovered Steinway St.”

Although the arrangement is more muted than one might typically expect from ALD, sneaker leakers have suggested a total of four colorways will make up the 1000 collaboration.

Prior to this year, the 1000 was a relatively obscure sneaker that originally released in 1999. It didn’t make much noise before retreating into New Balance’s archives until a Joe Freshgoods collaboration brought the sneaker back in April, but it already appears poised to prove the second time’s a charm as part of the trend favoring all things Y2K in both sneakers and fashion in general.

ALD’s last New Balance collaboration was a one-off 990v4 Made in USA that released in March. The New York City streetwear label has released dozens of New Balance sneakers since the two parties began working together in 2019.

No further release details have been announced for the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000. Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending 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.

Aimé Leon Dore‘s fruitful relationship with New Balance continues this week with three colorways of the Rainier Low boot.

The lower-cut Rainier, which made its debut earlier this year after the original model returned in 2022, takes on an all-suede upper courtesy of ALD. Monochrome looks define the upper in either brown, yellow, or white. Both the sole unit and tongue are then rendered in black for all three iterations, and each takes on its own color for the laces, tongue branding, and midsole heel stripe.

Brown is paired with purple, white with orange, and yellow with blue for the minimalist color schemes. Deviating from the usual collaborative formula, there’s little branding for Aimé Leon Dore to be found on the shoe’s exterior. The label’s name only appears on a custom tongue tag label featuring the “NB” mark atop a global grid graphic. Another Aimé Leon Dore spell-out then appears on the insole.

ALD and NB’s latest collaboration marks the first time they’ve worked together on the Rainier Low. Almost a year ago to the date, they released three colorways for the regular-cut Rainier for the archival model’s first appearance in six years.

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance Rainier Low is available for draw entries now on ALD’s website. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. There’s also a nontrivial chance New Balance hosts its own release at a later date. Pricing is set at $160.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending 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.

Aimé Leon Dore and New Balance will continue their venerable partnership this week with a new crop of the 550 and 650 sneakers.

With four pairs releasing in total, both the 550 and 650 take on colorways invoking the NBA’s two most historic franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The timing couldn’t be better either, as this week marks the beginning of the new NBA season.

The New Balance 550, a low-top and the most crucial silhouette in ALD’s years-long series of collaborations, takes on an eggshell color throughout its upper and midsole to emanate a sense of vintage. The outsole, underlays, and contrast stitching then make use of either purple and yellow or green and grey nodding to the two franchises with 17 titles a piece.

Arriving in a pure white, the higher-cut 650 arrives with a similar arrangement and the addition of black accents for the Celtics pair. As has become standard, all four pairs feature ALD’s basketball apple logo on the tongue as part of a caterpillar-like arrangement and on the left half of two mismatched heels.

To promote the latest New Balance capsule, ALD posted a New Yorker-esque cartoon highlighting different basketball skills honed through the boroughs of New York City and Long Island.

Raffles for all four pairs of the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 550 and 650s are available to purchase through a raffle on ALD’s website open now through 11:59 p.m. EST Wednesday, Oct. 25. A standard first come, first come release will then follow Friday through ALD’s website and physical stores. New Balance will then host an additional release Nov. 2 through its website. Pricing for the 550 is set at $130, while the 650 is $165.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending 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.