Solebox x New Balance 1500 “Nazar Eye” Interview
by Eugene Kan, November 19, 2008
Hikmet Sugoer of Solebox
Photo: Claudia Cassagranda
What is the concept behind this design?
The main concept is the “Nazar Eye” aka “Evil Eye”. It is not only based in Turkish culture, but you see it through many religions and cultures. It was a good theme to match up with the shoes. How often you see people looking, that envy your shoes. This time you have a built in protection against envy and evil people with the “Evil Eye” ornament! The rest of the shoe stays pretty classic and simple. The main actor are here the materials. Premium suede combined with mesh, nubuck and 3M… that’s it. New Balance stands for quality not really for bright colors. And we love the 1500s, which are by the way not available anymore in the inline collection.
With some many consistent collaborations, do you see yourself running out of ideas?
NO! If you see what is coming in 2009 you will see that our collaborations are always having something special. Sounds stupid to say this, but this is not business for us, it is fun! We are enjoying our passion we have and we have had good luck that the companies, and we’re sharing it amongst all of us. Our aim is to satisfy you guys out there. It is like a party where we are the DJs. We like to play the good music. Not always possible but we try to do our best.
Can you give a little background regarding the shoe’s history within the New Balance family?
The 1500 is a really, really strong and aggressive silhouette. The most interesting and honorable story for me: The original Designer of the 1500s contacted me, Steven Smith. This is what he told me regarding the history of the 1500s:
It was meant to be a series of the best of the best of what NB had to offer. There was a 1300, then a 1400 and the 1500 was the running update that was to be the best running shoe we had ever made. When the 1500 became a series it was expanded to a tennis model and a basketball model. The shape was a sophisticated redefinition of what the 1400 represented. It also set the direction for what the models below would look like. The main pattern features were the NB flextended saddle a forefoot support/swaybar of mesh and a lockdown underlay at the top of the collar. We aslo chose to use a pigskin lining and a plush collar foam. One of the coolest parts of the shoe was the complex 5 part midsole tool that we developed through New Balance Japan with Shohei Karata of NB Japan.
Big Thank You to Steven Smith to creating one of my favorite all time classics out there.
What’s the best part about doing a collaboration?
To see your first sample. It is a really great feeling to open the box or package to see your work! And to see then your shoes in different countries is the next great thing. Thank you to all companies who are working with us together!
A big thank you to the New Balance UK Team: Dan, Richard, Mike, Robert and of course Lucy for packing the shoes so carefully!
nice, will they be in singapore
Where i can get these in the US?
solebox brings us heat after heat.would be great to see a solebox nike someday
Very rarely can i look at an online pic and know it’s a quality product. looks soft as hell. keep up the good work.
i was just saying how i loved the previous 1500’s. keep on point
It seems like EVERY shoe I want is not available in the US. Unless I wnt to pay 5 times the amount for them. Anyone know any places to get these shoes??
that shoe is beautiful.
this is a nice collab but: solebox does definitely too much collabs! its played out.. NB, puma, saucony, asics, nb, nb, nb…
I wish the US had something like this.. but alas.. US = Nike
NB FO LIFE.
Hikmet – keep up the good work – both your collaborative efforts and the store (including the online update) are great achievements and I have always enjoyed visting when in Germany.
Thank-you for remaining authentic, true and hospitable.
PEACE
Best shoe for 2008!!
Solebox is killing it!