COMME des GARÇONS HOMME and New Balance Deliver Rugged Utility on the Revived 1226 Archival Runner
Hypebeast received an exclusive first look during PFW SS27 of the collaborative “Charcoal/Brown/Khaki” colorway.
Summary
COMME des GARÇONS HOMME has teamed up with New Balance to resurrect the archival 1226 running silhouette
The collaborative release expands on New Balance's tech-runner revival wave, following the design footsteps of the popular 1906 and 860v2
The updated 1226 strips away standard inline prints and metallics, choosing premium debossed nubuck and oversized open mesh for a cleaner look
COMME des GARÇONS HOMME and New Balance are continuing their long-standing partnership by shining a spotlight on another deep-cut archival runner. Looking to capitalize on the industry’s sustained appetite for mid-2000s tech running aesthetics, the Japanese avant-garde label has officially re-engineered the New Balance 1226, elevating the vintage high-mileage trainer into a rugged, lifestyle-oriented staple tailored for the modern consumer.
Hypebeast received a first look at the return of the 1226 silhouette during Paris Fashion Week. The 1226 reveal directly follows New Balance’s highly successful strategy of reviving heritage tech running silhouettes, drawing from the same structural lineage that popularized the 1906 and 860v2. However, this revitalized iteration updates the underfoot tooling by injecting a higher volume of ABZORB SBS cushioning than its archival predecessors, ensuring maximized shock absorption and all-day comfort. Despite the heavy implementation of technical components, modern manufacturing techniques have been leveraged to ensure the hybrid model launches at a relatively accessible lifestyle price point.
Visually, the collaborative model shifts away from the sleek, metallic finishes that define New Balance’s inline releases. COMME des GARÇONS HOMME has completely stripped the upper of all digital prints and high-shine silver elements, opting instead for a highly textured, material-first execution. The shoe’s foundation is built around a wide, heavily ventilated open mesh on the vamp and saddle—noticeably larger than the mesh utilized on standard inline variants. This airy base is layered beneath premium nubuck overlays that feature a狼 crafted debossed pattern, emphasizing a more aggressive look that aligns with current outdoor utility trends.
Breaking from the traditional “Triple Black” and “Triple White” color stories that have dominated previous joint efforts between the two brands, this season’s delivery embraces an organic, trail-ready earth-tone matrix. The sneaker arrives in a rich “Charcoal / Brown / Khaki” mix, blending deep slate underlays with sandy khaki accents and chocolate brown panels. The collaborative branding footprint remains characteristically subtle, with the iconic COMME des GARÇONS HOMME branding integrated into a custom TPU patch stitched directly onto the tongue.
