New Balance Reimagines The 610 As A Puffy Slip-On

Eccentric mashup models are more in vogue than ever, and New Balance is absolutely on the vanguard of that intersection. Beginning with the New Balance 2002R Mule and further iterated with Miu Miu’s New Balance 530 Mule, they’ve shown themselves plenty willing to change the basic shape of their most popular runner models. While the 610 may not be lighting the streets on fire in the same way as the New Balance 1906R or New Balance 9060, it’s one of their reliable models all the same, and it’s getting a major overhaul for Fall/Winter.

In similar fashion to the New Balance 1906L, first shown as a Junya Watanabe collaboration before its September 19th public debut, this sort of tooling was showcased well ahead of time. First came one half of the Commes Des Garcons collection, introducing the bootie-like foot entrance, though that pair leaned more on the rugged, sneaker side. NB’s experimental in-house group, Tokyo Design Studios, released pairs towards the end of last year that serve as the true missing link, bearing near-identical branching overlays that pair with the sock collar for a sleek overall atmosphere.

Given those two precursors, this mainline edition builds on their foundation with pronounced, plush panels. The jagged leather section at the heel and exposed stitching at the forefoot maintains the 90s outdoorsy design language of the 610 proper, and combined with the slipper modifications, make this a perfect embrace of gorpcore trends.

The New Balance 610S is available now via select global New Balance sites, retailing for an equivalent of $100. Stateside release information is unclear as of writing, but check out official images just ahead to get prepped for when these do crop up in the US or your country.

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