Surplus Materials Find Themselves on New Balance's MADE Responsibly 998
And no two pairs will ever be the same.
Sustainability is at the front of almost every footwear brand’s mind as of late, and now New Balance is joining in on the fun with its MADE Responsibly approach. With the 998, New Balance is set to craft a variety of pairs (that are all one-of-a-kind) from surplus materials making up the suede overlays, body mesh, lining, laces, collar strip, trim, and soles.
Each pair is made by hand in New Balance’s New England, U.S.A. facility with the highest level of craftsmanship, all while respecting the more mindful approach to sneaker making. The results include shoes that are mismatching from one pair to the next, but in turn promise a colorway that can never be made in the exact same form again.
New materials have been used for the foam paddings, heel counter, and box toe, which have all been pulled from New Balance’s stocked material toolbox. The unique pairs are seen to appear in colorways such as black on yellow and purple on yellow, while others have color-blocked, striped, or speckled midsoles, and other unique finishing touches.
Destined to be a collectible among New Balance fans, the MADE Responsibly 998 is set to launch on New Balance’s website in the U.S. on May 1 at 10 a.m. ET for $179.99 USD apiece.
In other news, Matthew M Williams’ Nike Zoom MMW 4 is dropping in two new colorways tomorrow.
