New Balance set a new standard in releasing product by teaming up with top retail partners to collaborate with designers and developers from the brand’s global product creation centers in the US, Japan and England. The Program provides top global retailers with a forum to work with New Balance factories to produce a collection that is regionally designed but available to consumers worldwide. As Luis Navarro, product manager for New Balance Life states, 'each collection will have stories unique to the retailer with which the collection was designed.'
The program kicks off with the NYC-based boutique, Alife Rivington Club (ARC) and was designed and developed in tandem with New Balance’s USA (Boston) team. Built on the classic New Balance M1300 silhouette, the ARC collection celebrates a heritage style that was first introduced in 1985 as a premium technical running shoe. Designed to evoke the archetypical '80s jogger, the ARC collection is available in three material and colour combinations - teal/grey, all-over teal and white with small teal pops of colour.
Steve Cusick, product developer for New Balance reveals 'the materials selected follow our core classic Made-in-the-USA heritage. Pig suede on the tip, saddle, and foxing plus jacquard knit meshes are the staples used on many of our domestically-made classics.' Because the inspiration came from the 1980’s joggers, we used felt and Spenco mesh, both very delicate materials which are hard to keep clean but very indicative of the look we were after. With quality and durability a high priority, we pushed to maintain the same materials on all three styles.'
Keeping the collection true to ARC’s personality, all colour pantones of teal and grey were chosen by ARC. Everything visible on the shoe - suede, labels, laces, thread, inserts, meshes, soling- is a true collaboration of talent between the New Balance designers/developers and ARC.
We were keen to find out how the experience was for the fellas at ARC, so we let Jesse Villaneuva spill the beans. 'The shoe (the 1300) represents ARC. It is subtle, classic and functional - a good mix of classic NB and ARC palletes. The materials are what you’ve grown to expect from New Balance. What we wanted to do was add our twist on classic New Balance styling. The tie print on the tongue is a direct call out to classic ARC. We just love the way it fits and performs, pretty simple. The style of the tongue works well with the fall of a jean as well. For us it was simply about quality materials and execution of placement. There are so many shoes on the market that are close to being correctly executed. One minute detail can end up being a deterrent, i.e. a leather toe box. We just wanted the shoe to have the look, feel, and utilitarian function of what we have always known New Balance for: quality mesh and nubuck on a functional runner'.
After the gang's trip to New Balance’s Skowhegan factory to watch the final NB/ARC collection come off the production line, Treis Hill of ARC commented, 'After the trip to Maine, it’s my focus to point out the excellent quality and workmanship of the New Balance factory based here at home and the newly established relationship between ARC and New Balance.' Hill concluded, 'New Balance has tremendous potential in the lifestyle space and we are excited to be working with them on this and hopefully other future projects together. The level of craftsmanship that goes into each pair of shoes made by New Balance is unmatched by any other company I know.'
You can get yours now at Alife Rivington Club.
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