Dohee Kim Teases New Balance 509 in Red Suede
Official images show another variant by the XLIM founder, utilizing black suede to accompany the firey red counterpart.
On Monday, XLIM founder and stylist Dohee Kim teased images of his next New Balance 509 model, which takes a heated departure from his last collaboration with the Boston-based shoemaker. The designer helped usher the early-aughts-era runner back in rotation with collaborative variants that dropped in Fall 2024, using shiny overlays and a black-focused palette.
In contrast to the sleek and dark design of the last 509s, the new red model features color-saturated hairy suede overlays and a natural rubber gum sole. The movement towards softer textures and saturated colors, mirrors shifts demonstrated in XLIM’s “Episode 7” collection, which included pops of bold CMYK hues.
In keeping with the serial nature of XLIM’s “episodes,” Dohee Kim evolves colors from his previous 509s with a new black colorway. Black suede overlays contrast with the open texture of dark purple mesh underlays, creating a pared-back ink-hued palette. Demonstrating his affinity for combining technical features with naturalistic finishes, a skidded midsole adds a worn-in appeal to the shoes.
As of the time of writing an official release date and pricing information has not been shared. However, the Dohee Kim x New Balance 509s are expected to drop on the New Balance web store and select retailers by Fall 2025.
