New Balance is set to reintroduce the 1000 — an archival shoe from 1998 — later this year, and one of the A-list collaborative partners helping them do so is Joe Freshgoods. Sneaker leaker woganwodeyang recently took to his Instagram to offer a teaser of Freshgoods and New Balance’s collaborative effort. Although it doesn’t paint a complete picture of the forthcoming design, it does provide an inaugural glimpse at some key details.
First among these is the shoe’s color scheme, a mix of black and grey shades that surrounds copper-toned iridescent overlays, which have drawn comparisons to the Skepta x Nike Air Max 97 Ultra from 2017. There’s also a classic gum outsole plus custom “jfg” hit surrounded by a circle on both the heel and the mint green insoles. Freshgoods’ collaborations with New Balance are always centered around storytelling — for example, his debut collaboration with the brand, 2020’s 992 “No Emotions Are Emotions” explored the concept of letting your work speak for you, while 2021’s 990v3 “Outside Clothes” saluted both summertime in Chicago and Black cultural traditions — but there’s currently no word on what inspired this design.
The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 arrives after a busy 2023 for Freshgoods and New Balance as well, as the two teamed up three times, producing the 610 and Rainer Boot “Beneath the Surface,” the 650 “Stuntman” and a Belly-inspired trio of 990v4s. As for the 1000, Freshgoods joins Aimé Leon Dore as one of the earliest collaborative partners to be leaked. Several in-line colors are on the way as well.
Stay tuned for more info on this release as it’s made available.
