LEAKS! – New Balance Autumn/Winter 2014

Following on from the last post, I checked out this collection back in April, and it’s taken a long time for some pictures to show up on the internet, but nevertheless, they did, so check them out below.

Again, we see more of the same from New Balance USA, but that pair of 1300’s really caught my eye, and I’m looking forward to checking them out in person. We also see New Balance sticking with some denim on another 1300 make-up.

Stay tuned on my blog for when more pictures become available.

 

All images via The Shoe Game.

LEAKS! – New Balance Spring/Summer 2015

There’s been a few times that I’ve sat down and wrote a couple of pieces about ‘leaks’, but I’ve never actually posted one. It’s a touchy subject for all brands/stores together, and for people who initiate leaks when they’re not meant to that represent the brand/store, well, I can’t imagine they’d be in their employer’s good books.

However, it is 2014 and the world has been engulfed in social media, whether it be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or whatever other social platform there is, so it’s pretty inevitable that leaks are going to happen. It’s not all bad though as the consumer love leaks, and that’s no word of a lie. There’s nothing the next man wants more than a sneak peak at an upcoming collaboration with a store, or a couple of their favourite models from a brand’s unreleased collection let slip and up for sale on eBay. It creates a huge amount of anticipation, and excitement amongst everyone and keeps them talking, which surely for the most part is good for the brand.

Anyway, that’s a discussion for another time, I just wanted a brief introduction before I let loose some of these samples for New Balance Spring/Summer 2015 Collection, which were advertised for sale on eBay and Klekt. This was a month or so ago and they’ve been populating the world wide web ever since, so this isn’t exactly the first time they’ve been seen.

So what’s in store for Spring/Summer 2015? I had seen various pairs from this collection a couple of months before they surfaced on the internet, and only a few had really caught my eye.

Made in USA –

More of the same, that’s for sure, the New Balance 997 is sticking around for a while, and although I welcomed back this model with open arms, much like the 990, it seems like it’s going down the same road – at least two colourways every season, and then throw in a couple of collaborations. The word ‘overkill’ springs to mind, I’d of been more than happy sticking with the grey and navy pairs, then maybe a couple more.

New Balance 997DOL –

 

New Balance 997JNB –

On-to the New Balance 990 now, and just recently this model was made available on the US New Balance site for customisation, so now the possibilities are endless – material choices are currently limited to just suede and mesh.

We’ve seen a lot of ‘Premium Packs’ if you must, with a bunch of standard NB pack names to go along with them, ‘Connoisseurs’, ‘Distinct’, ‘Author’, etc etc etc, so we will be welcoming the Horween Leather 990 very soon.

New Balance 990CRD –

New Balance 990BHR –

What more can we expect from the Made in USA side of things for Spring/Summer 2015? Well, the New Balance 998 firmly holds it’s place in the USA collection, along with maybe another 997, a premium 990 which looks really good, but the most exciting news about S/S 2015 is the USA Bringback Collection.

The USA Bringback collection will consist of the 990GRY, which you may remember was released not too long ago for it’s 30th anniversary, so if you missed out then you’ll have another chance to grab them. Along with that will also be a grey 998, possibly very similar, if not the same as the pair which Roadrunner Sports have been releasing for the last few years, and finally, the 1300JP (5 years since it’s last release), probably the most anticipated shoe from the USA collection.

Made in UK –

The Made in UK side of New Balance is my forte, but for the last few years, it’s all been pretty poor in my opinion, and that’s not just because of the shape issue, the colourways and materials haven’t exactly been up to scratch when you compare them with what Flimby were capable of pre-2010.

The usual UK models making an appearance, but not much to really talk about. A while back we seen some pics of the ‘Gentleman’s Choice’ Pack and you can see one of the 1500’s in all of their glory below.

New Balance 577SMO –

New Balance 1500GMN –

New Balance 1500SG –

New Balance 1500NAV –

New Balance 576PGT –

Much like the Made in USA collection, Flimby have also been working on some premium packs, and one of them worth noting, probably only because of the 1500, which is guaranteed to be a winner with everyone. The only picture I can share is of the pack in the colours of the ‘Union Jack’, the red 1500, blue CT300 and the tip of the toebox of the white 577.

Once the pre-orders are up at all the usual retailers, I will compile another post of both collections. Until then, enjoy speculating, I’m sure more leaks/teasers will appear soon.

WOMFT – New Balance 577SNE x Sneakersnstuff

 

Adidas ZX Flux 8000 Weave OG

 

The whole ‘Flux’ technology from Adidas has been the talk of the town for a good while now, and it definitely doesn’t seem like it’s going to die down anytime soon, especially with all the excellent upcoming make ups. It’s been pretty ground breaking, much like the hyperfuse from Nike, but Adidas seem to be going that one step further, and it’s paying off big time.

Now don’t get me wrong, the ZX 8000 itself is one of the best Adidas models out there, but for me, it had almost felt a little bulky on-foot, but now that it has been given the flux treatment, I can’t use that as an excuse.

The ZX Flux 8000 Weave is an identical representation of the original much loved ZX 8000 model that launched back in ’89. That distinctive turquoise blue upper with yellow accents, duped the ‘Aqua’, is a favourite colourway for many Adidas collectors, and trainer aficionados alike. We see this shoe get the Flux treatment, and all the panelling is now woven in using a jacquard technique, which creates a stunning minimalist silhouette, one that we really cannot fault!

If you’re yet to pick up a pair of the ZX Flux Weave, then you really are missing out. There’s plenty of great colourways out currently, and even more on the horizon, and all for a fair price in comparison to other shoes out there, so don’t miss out.

New Balance 577 – 25th Anniversary

It’s been a long time coming, but I finally got my hands on both pairs of the New Balance 577, which were created for the 25th Anniversary of this model. The 577 is widely regarded as one of the most treasured New Balance silhouettes, and a staple piece of the Flimby Factory in the UK, where it has been made for the last 25 years. Apparently the 577 has appeared in 132 different make ups since it was first released, and this number in actual fact probably seems fair because if you even begin to name some of the collaborations, limited editions and general release colourways, then it tallies up pretty quickly.

Anyway, for the 25th Anniversary, New Balance have revisited two OG colourways, in theory, they are the NG and GNA, but for the purpose of the anniversary, these specific pairs are ANN and ANG, respectively.

The New Balance 577ANN has a navy upper, and the 577ANG has a grey upper, both of which are made from supple suede and some shiny breathable mesh, along with a navy N, contrast 3M, and all sat on top of an Encap midsole with some vintage yellowing.

So, moving on from the first appearances to the stuff that people want to know, and some of the nice touches that you wouldn’t get on a normal pair of 577NG or GNA.

Each pair comes with a special anniversary box, which is decked out in white, along with a white dustbag, and a spare navy lace set. The shoe also has a plush leather lining, that we’ve come to grow fond of on the more premium pairs, and it looks and feels great on these two as well.

 

Add in the fact that New Balance, and more so Flimby seem to be heading back on track with regards to the shape of the 577, then we’re on to a winner – although, there is still room for improvement, not just on the toe box, but the panelling also.

One thing that may seem a little strange to some is the Encap piece on the upper. Most people probably remember seeing this feature on older US Made 577’s, but it did also feature on older UK Made pairs, however, they are much rarer to come across these days. Nevertheless, it looks good!

Check out some more pictures below, and I’ll update the post and/or create a new one when I get some more on-foot shots.

Crepe City 11 On-Foot Recap

As always, everyone digs out their most favourite pairs of trainers to wear at the Crepe City 11, so I tried to capture some of the pairs during the day.

So rather than clogging up the recap post, you can find all on-foot shots from the event below:

Crepe City 11

It is said time and time again, and it may almost sound like a stuck record, but it’s true, Crepe City is continually growing with each one being even bigger than the one before. The 11th instalment was no different, and with a new room in the Truman Brewery, located just off Brick Lane, the 22,000 sq ft room was packed to the brim with trainers, streetwear, accessories, vintage clothing, customisers and much much more. With almost 5000 people passing through the doors, whether you were looking to buy, to sell, or simply just to drop by and have a look, then this was the place to be!

It’s not often that we complain about heat in the UK, but in both the true meaning of the word and also the adopted version to describe footwear, Crepe City felt like a giant greenhouse awash with thousands of pairs of trainers. Luckily, there were plenty of flyers advertising the next event (Crepe City 12) on hand, which turned out to be very effective fans to keep heads cool, but wrists sore.

With the vast new space all on one floor and in one room, this seemed to finally give the event a proper convention feel, and was preferred by many. The room was lined with tables parallel to one another from one end of the room to the other, and the space filled quickly with punters trying to locate the best bargains available.

Over the years, Crepe City have grown to become the biggest and best trainer event in the UK, and this shows with the large amount of new and old sellers that they attract. Sellers travel from both the UK and abroad, as well as named brands such as Puma, and stores such as Wellgosh who also regularly make the effort to sell stock at reduced prices, or even display current and upcoming releases.

Dutch heavyweights Prime also visited for the second time in a row, bringing their amazing collection of Nike Air Max, along with everyone’s favourite releases from other brands, which meant their stall was the busiest throughout the day.

On the subject of reoccurring sellers, the UK’s own Ropes Laces were on hand to sell their vast catalogue of rope laces, as well as their recent collection of flat laces, including some very tasty 3M offerings. With the exception of that one day, the UK experiences some shocking weather for the most part, so taking care of your trainers is imperative, and the likes of Jason Markk, Liquiproof and Sneaky Brand were there to demonstrate and sell their product.

Trainer art has always been there or thereabouts, but over the last year or so, it has become increasingly more popular, so it’s always good to see what the UK has to offer. The extremely talented Steph Morris was at the event for the first time showcasing her exceptional pencil sketches, along with Filfury and his iconic abstract work.

Bar and catering services were upgraded for this event, and both were jam packed throughout the day, with various great food offerings, and of course, plenty of Red Stripe to go around. The small courtyard served well for somewhere to chill, grab a bite to eat, a drink and escape the sweltering heat of the venue. The Drop Date were also sneakily positioned in the courtyard grabbing on-foot shot of those who passed through to feature on their site.

As always, these events would not be possible without the work of the Crepe City team, and all the sellers, caterers, and everyone else involved in making the event run smoothly, so a huge thanks goes out to all of them!

See you all at the next Crepe City on the 8th of November!