New Balance Patch Things Up on the 327
Since its debut last year, the has been unstoppable. Its inertia carries over into 2021 with a flurry of upcoming colourways and material concepts, which next taps into the venerable patchwork style that seems to have again gained prominence in recent years.
The launch colourways of the 327 leaned heavily on its 1970s archival runner inspiration, so there was plenty of suede and nylon on show. These two new editions abandon that throwback reference and instead nod to hardier workwear aesthetics. One colourway goes down the route of sturdy twill and ripstop nylon, with a smattering of low-key uniform shades like khaki, black and beige. While the other is an indigo-dipped faux ‘boro’ mix of denim and chambray that could almost pass as an inline version of NB’s recent colab with Levi’s, which also used the 327.
Despite the departure from the retro aesthetics in these new editions, there is still all of the original design DNA that’s made the 327 so popular. That massive sculpted foam midsole is still there; as is the knobbly outsole. Now these patchwork-style colourways will only cement the model further as one of NB’s latest and greatest offerings.
Both options release on February 6 via Japan’s atmos, but fingers are crossed for a global drop.