Joe Freshgoods is playing it as coy with his latest New Balance sneaker as he is keeping it limited.
With just 500 pairs made, the designer‘s New Balance 650 “Stuntman” requires sneakerheads to fill in the dots on its back story. That’s because it involves a certain person with the most significant sneaker contract of all-time, a person so attached to a single brand that its lawyers could fill up Chicago’s United Center with cease-and-desist lawyers should a competitor try to use his name.
Fortunately, there’s nothing precluding an outlet such as Footwear News from spelling it out more clearly. That person is Michael Jordan,
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In an Instagram post announcing the release, Joe Freshgoods tells the story of seeing someone “special” wearing a pair of New Balances for a photoshoot in a 1984 issue of Life magazine dedicated to the Olympics. Jordan appeared in the magazine ahead of the Summer Games, a year before he’d go to the NBA and sign a contract with Nike. Funny enough, that very photoshoot would even go on to inspire the Jumpman logo — even though he was wearing a crisp pair of New Balances in the now-iconic pose.
Freshgoods pays tribute to this bit of lore — unofficially, of course — by mirroring the low-frills colorway after the sneaker from that shoot. White and grey give it a monochromatic look, and a special bag included in the packaging asks, “What if things were different?” Where “650” is typically embroidered near the forefoot, “JFG” initials now take its spot. Each pair is also hand-numbered.
The designer likens to project to comic books’ alternative timelines, with Jordan as the superhero who could have signed with New Balance instead of Nike. New Balance’s legal team should also be praised for a heroic effort, though, as it had to have pored over every word and image in Freshgoods’ post to make sure no lawsuits would follow.
Further release details are still to come, but Joe Freshgoods’ New Balance 650 “Stuntman” is confirmed to release Saturday, Sept. 9.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
