New Balance 1906R M1906RA M1906RB

In 2020, New Balance brought back the 2002. And now, two years later, the brand is giving the 1906 the same treatment, replacing the 2009 shoe’s sole with that of the 860v2. And along with a collaborative offering with thisisneverthat, the silhouette will soon appear in a number of colorways of the line, the first of which is slated to hit Asia later this August.

Comprised of breathable mesh inserts, synthetic panels and premium nubuck accents, the silhouette celebrates the iconic look of 2000s runners. This is further enhanced by its dominant silver make-up, which pays homage to one of the original colorways of 1906. The OG 2002 is also venerable, with its deep gray and navy blue accents translating well to the more intricate upper.

To better commemorate the release of the 1906R, New Balance has teamed up with renowned designer and fashion director Akio Hasegawa, who has created a series of looks based on the theme of “Past” and “Future”. In addition, the brand captured Hasegawa’s thoughts on the shoe itself and the inspiration behind his work. You can find the full conversation below.

Both of the aforementioned 1906R styles are slated for release on August 19 in China and August 12 in the rest of Asia.

North AmericaAugust 12, 2022 (Friday)

North AmericaAugust 12, 2022 (Friday)

What are your impressions of the new 1906R shoes?

1906R is such a great looking shoe that stands out with its different looks and colors. As soon as I laced the shoe up and looked at it from the side, I fell in love with it as the toe box profile was reminiscent of my favorite model, the 990v5. The original 1906 colorway exudes a feel of a classic performance running shoe. With the classic running trend becoming more and more popular, I think the 1906R is a perfect silhouette for consumers to style.

Please explain your creative vision, concept and style for the 1906R photo shoot?

The original 1906 model was released in 2009 and I imagined a concept of how things were back then. The late 90s and early 2000s was a time when many followed the expectations of the future and craved the latest technology. It was an era of technological change compared to the physical condition of its surroundings, such as the buildings, and the bricks and materials from which it was built. My concept for the past was a collage of buildings and surfaces from that era, which is also a tribute to the building blocks of the New Balance brand which was founded in 1906. For the future concept featuring the gray shoes, I decided to Remove all the extra elements to let the shoe itself be the deciding factor and allow it to grow on people.

How do you think the 1906R fits into the current fashion and style for the consumer today?

In an era of liberation from business suits and leather shoes, a more modern and comfortable fashion style is circulating around the world. My feeling about the original 1906R color is that it can be coordinated through a more fashionable styling lens, while the 1906R gray can be casually paired in a more nuanced fashion similar to sportswear style. In that sense, my thoughts are that the 1906R is a great shoe that suits any style.