New Balance Gets "Dirty" on Pre-Distressed 1000
Arriving this August, the retro runner gets a lived-in feel with an aged patina.
Name: New Balance 1000 “Dirty”
Colorway: Silver Metallic
SKU: M1000G
MSRP: $150 USD
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Where to Buy: New Balance
Gone are the days of crispy, clean sneakers. The forerunners of the sneaker world are leaning into a lived-in feel through recent pre-distressed silhouettes from Nike‘s .SWOOSH AF1 “Dirty Triple White,” A$AP Rocky x PUMA Inhale OG, and now the recently unveiled New Balance’s “Dirty” 1000.
For their interpretation of the trend, New Balance uses one of its retro runners as the canvas and goes for its recognizable silver palette. Reissued in 2024, the latest model draws from the original 1999 design in intricate technical overlays and a prominent Y2K sensibility. Along with mesh uppers and leather overlays, a chunky segmented sole unit boasts ABZORB cushioning.
To give the model a used look, dirt-like smears and abrasions are applied throughout the body. A realistic smokey stain appears on the white mesh, while the leather overlays show an aged finish. Elsewhere, dirty midsoles emphasize the sculptural shape of the cushioning, and black outsoles serve as the foundation for black branding on the upper panels.
Though less apparent, the recently unveiled New Balance 1000 “Grey Metallic” shows similar distressing across the monochromatic dark gray body. For any other sneaker purveyor, two gray colorways may feel redundant, but at New Balance, the choice is rooted in tradition. In May the label launched its “Grey Days” event championing its signature color every May by sharing special product launches, events, and stories.
The New Balance 1000 “Dirt” hits the brand’s web store on August 1, 2025. See the gallery above for a closer look at the model.
