With sneaker collaborations and exclusive colorways seemingly released daily, it’s becoming increasingly hard to keep up to date. We turn our heads to the masters of the limited release, New Balance, to take a closer look at one of their most frequently reworked models: the 574. From all their way-out-there patterns, clashing colors, subtle suede and Made in USA releases, we’ve picked out our favorites from the past few seasons.
New Balance Connoisseur Guitar 574
New Balance dropped this premium leather, U.S.-made 574 as a part of the Connoisseur Guitar Pack just earlier this year. You guessed it, these are inspired by classic rock music, but to be a little more precise, they’ve been inspired by guitar picks themselves. Red and gold accents accompany a full tan leather upper and gum mid-sole. The Boss would be proud.
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Mita x New Balance Fresh Foam 574
The original 574 gets a total revamp for Fall 2015, with the introduction of their new “Fresh Foam” outsole unit, in partnership with Japanese retailer, Mita. They Feature a stitchless welded upper in a one-piece mesh and synthetic construction, and they come complete with a reflective 3M heal tab. We’re hoping that this shift is a sign of more exciting things to come.
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New Balance Woven Pack 574
Summer 2014 saw the release of the Woven Pack—a 3-piece collection featuring the classic 574 silhouette in a newly designed lightweight upper. The collection didn’t really make a lot of noise on the street, with both Nike and adidas pounding the pavement with their Flyknits and Primeknits, so it looks like New Balance were just testing the water with this. They’ve since released updated versions but no permanent collection—we love them all the same.
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New Balance OG 574
Quite simply one of the most wearable versions of the 574 is their OG colorway, which consists of vintage grey suede and navy vintage nylon. Featuring all the subtle details that sneaker fans first fell for, this pack cements why sometimes the best designs are usually the most simple. If you want a pair of kicks that are timeless, these are worth hunting down.
New Balance Boston Marathon 574
By far one of our favorite models of recent times is this year’s “Boston Marathon” 574, with serial-collaborators, Concepts. Designed as a tribute to the iconic race, this exclusive run gets a one-up on its predecessors by using laser etching techniques to create Boston’s skyline on the heel wrap. Subtle yet distinctive. For us, the mix of cobalt blue and premium Horween leather works perfectly.
New Balance Camo Neon 574
Right in the middle of the street style boom in 2013 New Balance dropped the Camo Pack. Back in those days camo adorned by dudes in the front row of fashion shows, as well as on the streets of every city you can think of. This model’s mixture of military, neon and streetwear was a certified winner; now you’ll find New Balance dropping bombs similar to this most seasons.
New Balance National Parks 574
A celebration of the National Parks of America with this release from Summer 2014. This sees their iconic ENCAP cushioning technology given the speckled treatment, along with a rich, striking blue suede upper and contrasting red accents. Nothing groundbreaking, just a really solid offering for everyday office duties.
Shellfire x New Balance City of Gold 574
Inspired by the city of Johannesburg, this collaboration from Spring 2014 with Shelflife, a South African sneaker boutique, is somewhat of an homage to the country’s culture. The gold trade, downtown train system and African tribal art—it’s all in there. The “Parktown Prawn” king cricket becomes this 574’s mascot, featuring across the lace bar, and insole—leading to one of the most intriguing collaborations we’ve seen.
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