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It could be argued that one of the year’s most anticipated sneaker collaborations isn’t actually a sneaker at all. To call the New Balance 1906 Loafer (1906L for short) unexpected would be an understatement. When it debuted on the runway in January at Junya Watanabe Man’s fall 2024 show, no one knew exactly what to think — but it sure got people talking.

Fusing the sole and techy TPU overlays of the popular New Balance 1906R sneaker with the laceless, low-cut opening of a penny loafer, the 1906L managed to combine two trends at once. And while some cried sartorial sacrilege, others opined that New Balance had stumbled on its next big hit. While the dust has yet to settle on the just-introduced model, the collab that kicked it all off is finally set to hit stores.

Junya Watanabe Man x New Balance 1906L loafer in black. Credit: Junya Watanabe

Watanabe’s vision of the New Balance 1906L adds premium touches of minimalism to the sneaker-loafer hybrid. While the silver in-line 1906L released in September featured a mesh base similar to the standard 1906R, the Junya Watanabe Man collaboration replaces the sporty material with a smooth leather in simple black and white colorway options. The brand’s logo appears both on a label at the top of the tongue and on the insole.

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Charlotte Lee, senior footwear designer at New Balance, elaborated on the creation of the model in a press release. “Most of the product creation process was sample based, starting with a taped-last to ensure the 1906R pattern was correctly represented within a loafer form,” Lee said. “There was no need for a new blueprint for this model as it was using the existing sole of the 1906 sneaker.”

The Junya Watanabe Man x New Balance 1906L is confirmed for an Oct. 18 launch in Japan in both black and white colors. The date has been locked in by Japanese retailer Amanojak and will likely also include a release at Dover Street Market Ginza, among other doors. Retail pricing is ¥49,500, which converts to roughly $332 as of publishing. A wider global release has not been confirmed.