A new idea that combines performance and lifestyle, a silhouette that combines modern technology with the brand’s history.
New Balance, classics and performance
Performance models (Fuel Cell Rebel, Iron, 1080) and meticulous reissues of its classics (1500, 99x saga) have been the cornerstones of New Balance’s success. The last few seasons have, however, seen the introduction of a new concept that combines elements from both. The silhouettes such as 327, which draws inspiration from the 1970s New Balance collections, have been followed by the 57/40, which was popular in the 1980s and 1990s beginning with 574 and 576, and the 9060, which revives the style of the 1990s.
The most recent success for New Balance is also a blend of styles that leverages modern technology as a necessary tool while starting with the brand’s legacy. The New Balance WRPD Runner is a modern interpretation of timeless stories, a reinterpretation of the familiar with updated features and a sleek aesthetic.
New Balance WRPD Runner, a new concept
According to Charlotte Lee, Senior Designer at New Balance, “The WRPD Runner is a new concept driven by the unique space where style and performance meet.” The upper includes nods to classic New Balance designs, taken to their purest version, while the outsole is a distorted expression of the FuelCell technology used in the most technical shoes. The oversized proportions of the midsole and outsole run from toe to heel, while a fluid line pattern evokes a sense of movement, with cutouts throughout showcasing the gently sculpted FuelCell foam. The fluid lines of the foam blend with the abstract nature of a futuristic design and the outsole, with a wavy pattern, wraps around the midsole and gives the model its name.
Because WRPD, the name of this model, comes from Wrap, a reference to the new volumetric interpretation of New Balance’s heritage. Different colorways and editions of the New Balance WRPD Runner are now available in FOOTDISTRICT.