New Balance 1906R

The sneakers saw a comeback in 2022 with the collaboration with the Korean thisisneverthat, renamed ‘The Downtown Run,’ whose mesh layer and metallic inserts in a greyscale and navy colorways recall the Y2K aesthetics and echo the beloved New Balance Made in USA classics. Since the relaunch, the running sneaker is following the same path as the predecessor New Balance 2002R being revisited for the well-acclaimed ‘Protection Pack’, previously named ‘Refined Future’, where the rough-cut suede upper protects the mesh layer below, laying on a N-ergy midsole paired with the well-proven ABZORB cushioning system. Another upcoming collaboration lately surfaced in the sneakers blogosphere is Aimé Leon Dore’s, which under the lead of Teddy Santis – later designated as New Balance Made in USA creative director – has been having a key role in the relaunch of slow movers from the archive, up to have his own curated New Balance by Teddy Santis series. The silhouette is now subjected to various iterations, from the CORDURA® dressing to the inline colorway, openly recalling the original color palette of the shoe when launched in 2009.