New Balance is collaborating with the quintessential quiet luxury brand on a $1,000 sneaker.
The Loro Piana x New Balance 990v6 will release in September with just 1,000 pairs going on sale through the Italian label. As can be expected, subtlety is exactly what you get on the sneaker. New Balance‘s signature greyscale forms the vast majority of the suede and mesh sneaker, while Loro Piana‘s maroon outlines the midfoot “N” logo while making additional appearances on the outsole and tongue lining and the label’s lone external logo placement on the tongue tag.
Fit for Kendall Roy, the 990v6 marks the first time Loro Piana and New Balance have joined forces. The rollout for the shoe has been just as quiet as its appearance, as news broke from a Kuwait-based personal shopper with a relatively low social media following under the handle @sneakers_nstuff.
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New Balance launched the 990v6 in 2020 as the latest update for what was originally introduced as a running sneaker in 1982. The original was the first running shoe to cross the $100 price barrier, and the 990v3 that dropped in 2012 for the model’s 30th anniversary created the template that’s been used for the next three updates. The 990v6 adds a bit more dimensionality to the upper, but its most significant change is in its use of more comfortable and squishy FuelCell foam in the midsole.
The Loro Piana x New Balance 990v6 will be quite hard to get, and not just because of its $1,000 price tag. Pre-sales from luxury house have already concluded and were targeted at its VIP clients, and the more open release date will follow September 5 only at select Loro Piana stores.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.
