{"id":40840,"date":"2019-01-09T12:14:11","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T17:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockx.com\/news\/?p=40840"},"modified":"2020-08-05T08:51:16","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T12:51:16","slug":"the-new-balance-1500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stockx.com\/news\/the-new-balance-1500\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Balance 1500, More than Just Another Shoe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Balance 1500KWG (Top); New Balance 1500GB (Bottom) \/\/ Illustrations by Matt Kyte (@1500archive<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

Since New Balance began making shoes in 1906, they have changed the way people view running sneakers. New Balance consistently improves their sneakers, \u00a0making sure the signature \u201cN\u201d remains synonymous with quality. Pushing out products adore<\/span>d by sneaker enthusiasts around the world has garnered New Balance a cult following. New Balance manufactures their shoes in factories located in the United Kingdom and the United States. The factories in both countries have a variety of differences but share one important commonality: They both produce the New Balance 1500.<\/p>\n

Producing more than 7 million pairs of various models yearly in the US and UK, the brand\u2019s factories have been attracting and keeping customers by never skimping on production quality. Because of this commitment, the 1500s made in the US and UK remain coveted by sneakerheads worldwide. Now that StockX also has headquarters in the US and UK, we decided to investigate the impact the brand and the 1500 has made on both sides of the Atlantic. With insight provided by some of the most influential New Balance heads in the sneaker community and a conversation with the creator of the shoe itself, Steven Smith, we discovered that the 1500 is more than just a shoe and that New Balance is more than just another footwear brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cRolls Royce\u201d of sneakers<\/b><\/p>\n

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Steven Smith in his design studio \/\/ Highsnobiety.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

In 1986, right out of college, Steven Smith (@stevensmith<\/a>) joined New Balance, starting in design. In his three years of working for the company, Smith created some of New Balance\u2019s heavy-hitters, including the 996, 997, 574, and most importantly, the 1500. <\/span><\/p>\n

Smith believes he was able to create something innovative\u00a0<\/span>and versatile. In a conversation with the man himself, Smith knew from the jump that the 1500 was going to be a knockout. \u201cI knew there was something special about it,\u201d says Smith. He further elaborates \u201cthat no matter where you look at it from, it is still interesting and the design is resolved.\u201d In previous interviews, Smith describes his inspirations for shoe designs coming from aerospace and medical innovations. But for the 1500, he wanted to capture the feeling of a \u201cCadillac or a Rolls Royce.\u201d To capture this feeling, he created the 1500\u2019s midsole with a \u201cplush suspension\u201d and gave the shoe \u201cpigskin suedes as the equivalent to Connolly leather [Connolly Leather is the historic company that supplies leather for Rolls Royce].\u201d<\/p>\n

With its sleek look and cutting edge features paying homage to classic cars, the 1500 has proven to be a shoe that continues to hold its own in the streets. The brand has delivered many collaborations with streetwear brands and sneaker boutiques from around the world, many of them working on different iterations of the 1500 model that holds the shoe to Steven Smith\u2019s original, high-end standard. The use of various materials and colors have created an even stronger fanbase, making the 1500 a trendsetter. <\/span><\/p>\n

American Through and Through<\/b><\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/MnwtfPelBHc<\/a><\/p>\n

In 1985 New Balance opened their first factory in <\/span>Norridgewock, Maine. Since then, the brand has expanded their operations throughout New England. In a country that mostly outsources production overseas, New Balance is one of few companies that prides itself on making shoes in America. They openly acknowledge this feat, with many of their factories donning signs that read \u201cExcellent is \u2018America Made\u2019.\u201d This sense of patriotism for their production resonates with many Americans, having multiple customers stay loyal to the brand. It is this loyalty that is partially responsible for New Balance\u2019s mark on American streetwear culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An inside look of New Balance’s Maine location \/\/ Solecollector.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

We asked Richie Roxas (@newbalance365<\/a>), one of the world\u2019s largest New Balance collectors, why he thinks New Balance and America go hand-in-hand.\u201cWhen you think of US brands, you think of New Balance\u201d says Roxas. \u201cNB will always be American at its core, no matter what countries it is doing well in, or which countries they are manufactured in. They still embody \u2018Americana\u2019 at its heart and still manufacture and produce many products in the states. No one else can say that they do that.\u201d Roxas values New Balance because he finds that the brand sticks to its roots and they consistently stay aware of \u201ctheir heritage.\u201d Owning somewhere between 500-600 pairs of shoes, and 75% of that collection dedicated to New Balance, Roxas appreciates NB\u2019s foundation being embedded in authenticity and attention to detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Richie Roxas created his 1-of-1 pair of New Balance 1500 while touring New Balance’s Flimby factory for a 35th Anniversary celebration \/\/ Illustrations by Matt Kyte (@1500archive<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

Richie Roxas is just one of many US New Balance fans who believes the brand is way ahead of the pack when it comes to keeping manufacturing jobs in the US. New Balance\u2019s impact on American manufacturing has not gone unnoticed by the US government either. In March of this year, New Balance won a $17.3 million government contract to manufacture shoes for the military.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bringing Back the Craft<\/b><\/p>\n