New Balance
New BalanceNew Balance 1906 Sneaker Arctic Grey
11 in stock
€169,00
New Balance 1906 Sneaker Arctic Grey De New Balance 1906 Sneaker Arctic Grey combineert een retro ontwerp met moderne technologie voor ultiem comfort en stijl. Het bovenwerk van ademend mesh en suède zorgt voor een stevige en duurzame afwerking, terwijl...
New BalanceNew Balance 1906 Sneaker Clay Ash Licorice
23 in stock
€169,00
New Balance 1906 Sneaker Clay Ash Licorice The New Balance 1906 Sneaker Clay Ash Licorice is the perfect combination of style and comfort. The upper is made of breathable mesh and suede, providing a durable and luxurious finish. The rubber...
New BalanceNew Balance 1906 Sneaker Sea Salt Radiant Purple
20 in stock
€169,00
New Balance 1906 Sneaker Sea Salt Radiant Purple The New Balance 1906 Sneaker Sea Salt Radiant Purple is the perfect blend of style and comfort. The upper combines breathable mesh and durable suede for a premium look, finished in the...
The origin of New Balance the brand:
New Balance is an American sneaker manufacturer that originated in Boston Massachusetts. This is in the north of America or the USA. This beautiful company was founded a while ago, namely in 1906. In this year William J Riley started the company, then it was still called "New Balance Arch Support Company".
Who is the founder of New Balance and how did it come about?
William J Riley was an English immigrant who initially focused his company on making orthopedic products and arch supports. In 1934 Arthur Hall joined Riley's team and became his business partner, he sold insoles for working people who were on their feet all day. Each complaint was examined and, as specifically as possible, by means of a good sole or supportive heel cap, ensured that people had the strength to continue working with less pain and more comfort. This is what we still do at Burned.
In the 50s a new adventure began for men and New Balance also started producing custom-made sneakers. This was such a hit and ensured that the demand for New Balance sneakers increased enormously. The demand even became so high that many athletes started asking for custom-made sneakers. They saw the advantages of custom-made shoes and thought they could perform optimally. For the company this was of course great and they had free advertising because athletes from all over the area came to buy custom-made shoes. Arthur Hall himself was no longer the youngest and wanted to pass the baton to his daughter and her husband. Between 1954 and 1956 the company was transferred to Eleanor Hall and Paul Kidd. The takeover provided fresh blood in the company and new ideas that were more in line with the spirit of the times. It remained a family business so they could and New Balance still can stick to their roots and go for functionality. They did not have to be led by large investors or certain hypes.
After the takeover, Eleanor Hall and Paul Kidd launched the Trackster in 1960, this was the world's first running shoe with a wrinkled sole that served for a lot of traction. An idea that is now indispensable in today's sneakers but was super innovative at the time. This shoe was also available in a new type of sizing. Normally sneakers were only adjusted in length but this shoe was also available in different widths. New Balance was the first producer of sneakers that also had a width size. The Trackster got a big boost in demand through the YMCA program, where it became the unofficial running shoe. Many American college track teams used the shoes in their races that took place all over the country. The colleges competed with each other all over America and word of mouth advertising continued to increase. This ensured almost perfect free marketing and because of this the shoe received a lot of attention all over the country. New Balance became a household name all over the country.
In 1972 New Balance was sold again but this time to an outsider of the family, the chairman also CEO Jim Davis bought the company on the day of the iconic Boston Marathon, at that time there were 6 people working for New Balance who together made 30 pairs of shoes per day. Jim had a number of points high on his banner, namely individual preferences of customers, good customer service and quality products. His wife Anne joined him in 1978, she created a special company culture within New Balance. Anne's support came at just the right time, around that time of the "Runners Boom" in Boston and surroundings. Their production line expanded enormously and sales went through the roof. This was the first time that they could measure themselves as a real sneaker company with the bigger ones of that time.
Between then and now New Balance has released many sneakers all with a different function fit or width. In order to distinguish all these shoes well they gave these different models numbers such as the 990 and the 574. The numbers did not only indicate the model but also the activity for which they were intended and whether they were made for speed or stability. These numbers are still used to this day. The range has expanded beyond just the sneakers and arch supports of then, this has continued to grow considerably over the years, they make dozens of sneaker models, clothing lines and special products for running, football, cricket, basketball, and cycling.
New Balance Rejuvenation:
New Balance has also been rejuvenating and is changing into a company that wants to appeal to more target groups. A big step in this was the founding of “New Balance Numeric” At the time founded by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas. New Balance has also recently had more so-called “collabs” with other brands. Comparable to Kanye West with Adidas and Virgil Abloh with Nike. New Balance, on the other hand, often works together with other brands or sometimes even stores, some examples of this are Concepts, Hanon, Bodega, Stray Rats Reprise and Aime Leon Dore.
Model numbers and their meaning:
The last 2 numbers indicate what the sneaker is intended for and what it is good at. For example, the “40” provides superior control, stability, cushioning and support. Models that end with these two numbers are extremely suitable for people with a somewhat flatter arch or flat feet. Examples of this are the 940 and 1540. The “50” is mainly intended for fitness and running for both outdoor activities and indoor workouts.
Category “60” offers market leading stability also this type of sneakers reduce the incorrect rolling of the foot while walking and running, the cushioning and comfort in these shoes is therefore unprecedented. An example of this is the 860.
New Balance's Goal:
New Balance is actually there for everyone, they want to help you break your records whether you are a top athlete or just like to run every now and then. The products fit in perfectly, they meet both function and fashion. When these are combined, this often results in fashionable comfortable sneakers or shoes that New Balance has been known for for years. One of the remarkable things about New Balance is that it has managed to remain relevant in all target groups. You see older people walking on the models for the comfort and smooth transition, but the youth also want sneakers from the company. This is a unique combination and with many other sports shoe brands, the somewhat older target group often falls away because they do not find the shoes beautiful or too flashy.
New Balance Made in USA / UK Sneakers:
While New Balance proudly hails from the US (Boston, Massachusetts to be exact), the athletic brand also has a factory across the ocean in Flimby, England. The Flimby factory is actually quite large, producing around 30,000 pairs of shoes per week.
Sneakers from New Balance's 'Made in UK' series stand out from the crowd and are the most important New Balance sneakers due to the quality of their materials and construction. Although this comes with a slightly higher retail price, it is an investment that many sneakerheads look for and find more than worth it for a refined shoe. An added bonus of New Balance's "Made in UK" line is that the Flimby factory produces several heritage models, such as the iconic 991 and 1500. In this day and age, there is a lot of fuss about the conditions in which workers work and the quality of life they have. The factories in both the USA and the UK work with local workers who are provided with everything they are entitled to. Think of the minimum income insurance pension and so on. So we think it is more than worth putting down a little extra money for a fairer product with better quality. Please note that these models cannot be purchased in the large retail chains due to the limited production quantities, they are only available from the smaller specialists. We will be selling these lines from mid-2020.
So if you’re looking for a high-quality, simple shoe, check out our sneakers and highlights in our blog of the made in UK or USA range. Our favourite styles include colourful takes on the 1500 silhouette – perfect for making your summer last a little longer – as well as more neutral versions of the 991 and 1530.