New Balance TriColor Pack
This year’s New Balance APAC TriColor Pack is staying true to current sneaker trends – it’s all about the sport shoes and low tops now. Keeping it clean, not too in your face but detailed enough for that random walker by to turn their heads. APAC represents the Asia Pacific region, and in previous years this collection has featured artist/store collaborations, coming out with Hungry Dragon, China Mask and Feral Creation collections. 2010 takes a break from this and New Balance head back to their roots in sports heritage and classic running footwear designs. New Balance are looking to the past for inspiration, applying 3 of their traditional core colours – rich burgundy red, navy blue and grey colourways.Â
The highlight of this collection and one that will get collectors’ collective tongues wagging is the CM1500SB, a limited edition running shoe inspired by the cult favourite M1300JP. Limited to 600 pairs worldwide, each pair is individually numbered. Made from premium nubuck and mesh, my favourite part of this shoe is the toe box. Architecturally sound, it’s sharp angles and square aesthetic is an unexpected and very clever detail. This product is only available at select top tier New Balance accounts, and comes in a special drawer box and shoe bag with heritage print inserts.
To us commoners and standard footwear lovers, there’s the hybrid M150 model that will be widely available. The colourway is made over in rich burgundy red, navy blue and grey colourways, each with a triple coloured tongue tag. The materials on each shoe are made up of a mixture of suede, leather, nylon, mesh and synthetic materials.
The launch of this year’s TriColor collection is supported by an exhibition of photographs based on the TriColor theme ‘Your Balance. Your Colour.’ the photographic works of 3 Asian artists will be compiled into an album to be sold at New Balance stores. The photographic works are done by Mr. Kim Hyeon Seong, known for his fashionable and unique everyday visuals, Mr. Masatoshi Nagase (award winning actor) from Japan known for his storytelling images and Mr. Quo Ying Sheng (art director and artist) from Taiwan, known for his contemporary and artistic crossovers. The proceeds from sales will go to visually impaired communities of the artists’ respective cities.
The ‘Your Balance. Your Color’ photo exhibition will run from Sept 27 to Oct 3, 2010 at the Omotesando Stadium, Tokyo. The New Balance TriColor collection and charity photo album will be hitting New Balance stockists on 10/10/10.
