HYPEBEAST Customizes the New Balance 990 with "Be A Maker"

Allowing one to flaunt their creativity and ideas over preferred designs, many sporting heavyweights now offer the service of sneaker customization. Proud of its ”Made in USA” heritage, New Balance is the latest to provide budding designers the opportunity to personalize one of its most sought-after running models, the 990. Born in the ’80s, the 990 is a precursor that laid the groundwork for many forthcoming running models. Made with understated elegance, the 990 boasts premium American-made construction with its blend of mesh and suede, while a cushioned midsole and Vibram OG outsole round out the sneaker with classic attributes.

Trying our hand at footwear design, the editorial team at HYPEBEAST took part in the “Be A Maker” program. In this rendition, the gloomy, grey weather of London serves as the core inspiration for this OG remake.

Catering to creatives that travel throughout the city for different obligations – whether you’re cycling or running to catch the next Tube — we wanted to complement the 990’s functional design with an unassuming makeup that can easily be styled to fit any occasion. Therefore, we opted for a synthetic mesh base for breathability and flexibility, and suede overlays for a dapper feel. From the 23 color options available, we went for a light grey colorway as the underlay which is applied on the tongue and toe box. Tonal, Castlerock grey at the laces and “N” vamp patch for complementary riffs, all while omitting the 3M option help with the sneaker’s somber aesthetic. Drawing cues from the overcast weather, navy overlays at the forefoot, vamp, and heel panel provide subtle contrasts and allows the iconic branding to standout.

Making reference to Britain’s longstanding monarchy, we enlisted hints of Bordeaux at the shoe’s crown – tongue patch, binding and heel — offering regal accents while also engaging pedestrians at first glance without overtaking its core theme. Elsewhere, navy “New Balance” stitching provides distinction over the contrasting heel counter. Continuing with the 990’s classic semblance, we opted for a white midsole and black outsole. Check out our iteration above and design your own version now over at New Balance’s online studio.