During 2021, New Balance has been launching a wide range of new footwear products, one of which is quite new is 57/40. The product-taking inspiration from the original 574 and upgraded with a thicker midsole unit and abstract overlay-has just been released with a new “green/rain cloud” palette.
Based on the color scheme presented on this GR makeup look, they will surely evoke the emotion of the model working with Bricks & Wood, which was released in early May. The upper structure incorporates mesh padding and overlapping suede panels, full of bold green tones. The small note of “Rain Cloud” brings some neutral contrast and is located on the side of the “N” logo and the higher part of the heel. Pure black accents are also displayed on the lining and on the New Balance brand on the top of the tongue.
Moving the focus down, the double-stacked midsole unit alternates between the cream layer at the top and the white part below, and the stepping combines its overall appearance with a concealed finish.
Despite having been revealed as recently as January 2021, the New Balance 57/40 has already garnered a reputable list of collaborators with the likes of COMME des GARÇONS HOMME and atmos. Adding to the ongoing list of Japanese powerhouses are retailer mita sneakers and streetwear brand WHIZ Limited, together delivering a pair that’s a sporty mix of primary colors offset by black and grey elements.
This isn’t the first time the two Asian brands are collaborating with The Intelligent Choice; the three names have been cooking up unique offerings since 2012, with the last arrangement being a USA-inspired New Balance 1700 that dropped in July 2020. The new 57/40 seems to retain the design ethos summarized by bright color-blocking on a simple base demonstrated by the aforementioned release. It sees grey mesh uppers that are primarily disrupted by black suede overlays to balance out the bold colors to come. Wavy overlays on the forefoot and the eyelets introduce green suede, while hints of red are found near the ankle and on the NB-branded tongue label. The final color, which is a true blue, is applied to the laces, toe, and beneath the silver, oversized “N” logo on the side. Although the trims above the midsole offer opportunities for more color-blocking, they all opt for a black makeup that blends in with the sole unit, finishing the versatile look.
Every year, New Balance celebrates “Gray Day” in recognition of its iconic gray color scheme. This year, the sports shoe giant launched a campaign called “Anyone Wears” to showcase the release of its three new 574 models.
The first of these three is called “Un-N-Ding” and it is the classic 574 structure. There is no signature “N” logo on the midfoot, giving the sneakers a minimalist and retro style. The second version of the shoe is a reintroduction of the original design first released in the 1980s. The perfect fusion is 57/40, renewing the original 547 with a modern feel. The upper is composed of a combination of suede leather and mesh cover, and is made of waves to create a futuristic feel. The top of this sneaker is decorated with a thick rubber sole, which provides comfort and durability in a variety of color schemes.
The “Gray Sky” campaign is called “Anyone Wears” with the same name as the silhouette slogan and aims to provide a platform for emerging British art talents. To celebrate the diversity of the country’s creative industries, New Balance worked with 5 individuals to have a positive impact on their respective communities. On May 15, Cktrl in London, Lauren Ralph in Birmingham, Sumuyya Khader in Liverpool, Meme Gold in Manchester and Wheelman in Glasgow were all creative people. They will have the opportunity to discuss their local broadcast on May 15. The radio station works and publishes topics covering fashion, art and music.
New Balance sneakers attributed to the Tokyo Design Studio are designed by a collective headquartered in Japan. A team of creatives in Tokyo, Taiwan and Boston combine cultures and influences with American-born footwear silhouettes. The resulting styles are innovative and often vastly different than products found in retailers stateside
Altogether, the shoes are representative of the larger company’s newfound commitments to collaboration and innovation. The energy the Tokyo Design Studio team — specifically creative design manager Shugo Moritani — brought to the Boston-based company, we’d argue, forged a path forward in several fledgling, albeit foundational, categories (basketball, streetwear and retail).
Typically, the US-based team offers designers and influential figures the opportunity to collaborate on unique color ways, interesting materials or patterns and, in the sole case of Jaden Smith, entirely new silhouettes. (Though newly appointed Creative Director of New Balance Made in USA Teddy Santis is surely next.) As such, the iterations done by the TDS are more limited in quantity but less limited in creative liberties taken.
That being said, they’re still rooted in a rigorous set of design principles — Precision, Nature Tech, Sports Craft, Protection — but are aimed at improving the wearer’s everyday life. On his design process, Moritani-san tells Sabukaru, “It starts from daily life and is completed by daily life. It’s a simple process actually, ‘How can I improve our lifestyle?'” For the 574 by TDS, the most notable design decisions are the removal of the embossed “N” logos on both the medial and lateral sides, the reduction of any typeface logo to the TPU heel clip and the addition of a Vibram ripple sole. The latter evokes outdoor gear and more aggressive, functional apparel, but the shoe’s overall tone proves softer and more vintage. (It references an early NB sneaker called the Trackster.)
The toe is rounder, the footprint less curvaceous and the exterior less “puffy.” Constructed with a welted sole, lightweight EVA foam cushion in the midsole and heel, the aforementioned TPU heel clip, an upper comprising pig suede overlays, mesh underlays and reflective accents, the shoes are completed with cotton laces and an embossed suede tag — final touches from a design team that clearly emphasizes process and presentation.
Based on the color scheme presented on this GR makeup look, they will surely evoke the emotion of the model working with Bricks & Wood, which was released in early May. The upper structure incorporates mesh padding and overlapping suede panels, full of bold green tones. The small note of “Rain Cloud” brings some neutral contrast and is located on the side of the “N” logo and the higher part of the heel. Pure black accents are also displayed on the lining and on the New Balance brand on the top of the tongue.
