New Balance
The Unique Story Behind the Brand
New Balance was founded by an Irish immigrant William. J. Riley in Boston, Massachusetts in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company. It started as a humble company selling arch supports for workers who stood long hours for work. Interestingly, Riley came up with the arch support design inspired by the perfect way his chickens moved on their three-clawed feet. This motivated him to produce the flexible three-support point arch. In 1927 Riley hired Arthur Hall as a salesman who by 1934 had become a partner at the company. At this point, they were still selling corrective insole supports. In 1956 Hall sold the company to his daughter and son-in-law Eleanor and Paul Kidd. The supports soon became a success and the brand after getting multiple requests by athletes for tailored sneakers introduced “Trackster” in 1961. This breakthrough model was the first shoe with a grooved sole. The Trackster soon became the most popular track and cross country shoe to be used in schools and colleges in and around Massachusetts.
Heralding the Change, the Most Iconic Models
In 1972 New Balance was purchased by their current chairman Jim Davis who made the brand a worldwide name. Their most popular shoes are the 320 and the 574. With 320 they launched their famous N logo now synonymous with the brand. This model was also voted the best running shoe by ‘Runner’s World’ magazine. The 574 was released as a technical running shoe, and thanks to its unique combination of comfort and stability became even more famous off the track. This heralded the entry of the brand into the world of streetwear making it a popular name among youngsters.
The new New Balance
Today the company is a multinational conglomerate with the credo ‘We were born to move’ and boosts of being both casual and comfortable with a promise to add pep to your every step! New Balance has designed ingeniously unique shoes for running, football, cricket, basketball, and cycling and skateboarding. They also sell a wide range of active wear apparel. New Balance has a number of collaborations with famous fashion labels such as Norse Projects, Stussy, United Arrows, Junya Watanabe eYe, and Beams Plus.