Today, sports shoes have ceased to be the prerogative of those who regularly attend gyms, treadmills and classes in stadiums. Sneakers are worn for a walk, meeting with friends, for going to the store and to nature. There are, of course, exclusively sports models, but there are also universal ones, such as, for example, New Balance shoes. Sneakers of this company have long and firmly settled in both women's and men's wardrobes.
Brand New Balance
The factory, where the first shoes that preceded the current New Balance sneakers began to be sewn, was opened in 1904 in the USA by the Englishman W. Wrightley. There was also founded a laboratory in which he developed orthopedic shoes.
With the launch of the New Balance sneaker line itself, there is one curious fact. Who would have thought that this very comfortable shoe owed its appearance ... to an ordinary chicken! The founder of the plant once drew attention to the poultry walking in the garden, in particular, how it keeps on its feet. As you know, the most stable figures are those that have three points of support. The same happened with the chicken - the similar structure of its legs allowed Wrightley to develop an idea and launch the New Balance brand. To this day, sneakers are produced according to those standards, which, nevertheless, are improved from year to year.
During its existence, the company changed several owners, and the label itself was even associated with several scandals based on racist soil. However, this did not in any way affect the quality of the shoes produced, and already in the early 1990s. New Balance brand was recognized as one of the leaders in the production of sports equipment.
The late 1980s and early 1990s - the time when the first New Balance products hit Russia. Sneakers with the treasured letter N were the subject of desire for almost all young people, and they could be obtained only with the help of farmers.
Constant adherence to traditions and careful attention to quality have made these shoes world famous. A special policy of the company’s management in the field of production adds some peculiar nationalistic and conservative charm to the brand: today, when many well-known sports companies have already firmly established themselves in China and other Asian countries, having built factories there, New Balance continues to produce most of its products in the USA and Great Britain. As a rule, these are all new and especially complex models.
Who is wearing New Balance?
Firstly, “New Balance” - sneakers, recognized by many stars and foreign celebrities. Jim Carrey, Michelle Williams, Jack Black, Megan Fox, Mike Myers, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon appeared in public in different years in famous sports shoes. Also among the famous fans, Steve Jobs and Bill Clinton should be mentioned.
New Balance sneakers are standard equipment in training camps of the American army. Of course, they are very popular among athletes.
If we take into account the informal environment, we can see that in Russia these sneakers are one of the attributes of football fans and members of the “right” groups.
New Balance Collections
For the convenience of studying the assortment of New Balance, all sneakers can be conditionally divided into three categories:
- Women's shoes.
- Men's shoes.
- Children's shoes.
New Balance women's sneakers include the following categories: classics, models for jogging and fitness, for traveling, casual and special sports models. Most articles are made of nylon and suede, but leather combination pairs are also found. Color combinations can be selected for every taste, however women's sneakers stand out immediately with their more compact and elegant form.
Sneakers "New Balance" for men is a number of the most diverse models designed for jogging, walking, hiking, tennis, basketball, golf. The usual classic is suitable for everyday looks, walks or trips.
Children's sneakers are divided into lines for boys and girls. There are even very tiny models for kids who barely learned how to walk.
All New Balance sneakers have a characteristic sole, thickening to the heel, a rounded toe with an upturned influx and the obligatory presence of the letter N on the outer and inner sides.
All collections have their own number, and even the New Balance winter sneakers will belong to a certain line, and not to the season. The most popular models today are No. 574, 576, 991, 1500.
How to distinguish the original New Balance from a fake?
There are several general rules that can be used to significantly reduce the risk of acquiring fake New Balance sneakers:
- the logo in the form of the letter N has a characteristic metallic tint;
- a sole with a company label identifier;
- shoes purchased in the store must fully match the picture on the official website of the New Balance brand;
- the cost of the model cannot be lower than the declared price in the American online label catalog;
- the original sneakers have smooth seams and labels, they should not have scuffs, cracks, dents or traces of glue;
- Each pair is packed in a high-quality cardboard box, equipped with information about the manufacturer and recommendations for care.
Despite this, real New Balance summer or winter sneakers can only be purchased at branded or licensed stores. As for other acquisition methods, there are no guarantees regarding authenticity.
How to choose New Balance sneakers?
Despite the fact that this is sports shoes, it can sometimes be difficult to choose. Depending on where a particular series is made, sneakers can be small or large. Shoes coming from the UK are usually half or whole size smaller. From Vietnam - more.
When purchasing unisex sneakers, it is worth considering that the size of this category is indicated by men's standards. Therefore, before buying, women need to carefully measure the foot if the order occurs in the online store. Sneakers also vary in completeness - the width of the foot at the very beginning.
Pads of different rulers also have their own characteristics. If the classic is suitable for almost everyone, then narrowly targeted models can simply be uncomfortable in an individual respect.