New Balance has established itself as a dominant force in the British footwear market, capturing the attention of style tribes across the UK with their athletic kicks that exude status and admiration. While originally from Boston, New Balance has become synonymous with English street culture, embodying the essence of British heritage and craftsmanship.
One subculture that has long embraced New Balance is the UK-based football casuals. Known for their alternative approach to sports footwear, these football enthusiasts sought a more refined and understated look compared to the offerings of Adidas and Nike. As the members of the football casuals subculture grew older, they gravitated towards New Balance's relaxed and comfortable styles, which perfectly complemented their evolving tastes.
Given this history, it comes as no surprise that New Balance has teamed up with London-based streetwear label Palace for their latest collaboration. Palace, founded by Gareth Skewis and Lev Tanju in 2009, has been instrumental in redefining UK streetwear culture. With their humorous approach to design, Palace has become a quintessential element of the local fashion movement. While Palace has its roots in skateboarding, which contrasts with New Balance's athletic origins, both brands share a passion for collaboration.
Palace has previously collaborated with brands like Umbro, Kickers, and UK pop star Elton John, while New Balance has joined forces with UK retailers size?, Foot Patrol, and London designer Paul Smith. Now, Palace and New Balance unite to create a collaboration that will go down in history. Their collaborative effort focuses on New Balance's iconic Made In UK 991 model, combining their shared identities to produce a design that stands the test of time.
The collaboration introduces two captivating colourways. The first features a teal ripstop base with purple leather trimmings, tan suede mudguards and heel counters, and beige textiles on the medials. The signature "N" insignia is tinted and showcased on the sides. The rear of the shoes reveals clear windows displaying divided Palace lettering, while "P991" lace dubraes and co-branded tongues add a unique touch. The second colourway embraces a palette of black, grey, pink, and purple, incorporating a similar construction to the previous pair.
Accompanying the footwear is an apparel collection inspired by outdoor pursuits. The range includes water-resistant nylon shell jackets and shorts featuring dual-logo patches and concealed pockets in purple and teal. The collection also offers simplistic T-shirts, crewnecks with merged graphics, and cinchable caps in matching hues.
The complete New Balance x Palace collaboration will be available in-store and online on May 12 at 11 a.m. EDT via the official webstore. It will also launch in Japan on May 13 at 11 a.m. JST on the Palace Japan webstore and the official "Palace_Skateboards" WeChat store at 11 a.m. CST.
This collaboration between Palace and New Balance encapsulates the essence of British heritage and street culture, bringing together two influential brands to create a collection that resonates with fans and collectors alike.
