The Aimé Leon Dore label, founded and led by Teddy Santis, has a long history of collaborating with New Balance on various partnerships and reissues of its most iconic models. And for good reason: in 2021, Santis became the creative director of the brand's Made in USA division, bringing a fresh perspective and a breath of new energy to the collections.
After several months dedicated to the Made in USA division, the designer is back in full swing with his ALD label, unveiling his Spring-Summer 2023 clothing collection, which is already generating buzz with standout pieces and appealing colorways. In the lookbook photos posted on the Instagram account @aimeleondore, three New Balance 860v2 models can be spotted, likely set to emerge when the warmer weather arrives.
Photo Credits: @aimeleondore (Instagram)
As you may have guessed, after the 1906R and 2002R models that have been riding a massive wave of popularity, New Balance is pulling another pair from its archives and plans to make it a must-have this year!
The New Balance 860v2, a Versatile Runner
With the current vintage and Y2K trend, there is no doubt that the spotlight Aimé Leon Dore is placing on the New Balance 860v2 will resonate with sneaker enthusiasts! First introduced in 2012, this versatile runner experienced a revival starting in 2019, thanks in particular to three collaborations that perfectly reflect each partner's creative vision.
END x New Balance 860v2
Photo Credits: End Clothing
In 2019, the silhouette was entrusted to the renowned London-based retailer END, which offers its customers a wide range of clothing, sneakers, and accessories from sought-after brands.
A colorful pair that does not go unnoticed and can elevate any outfit. That was the successful bet made by END, stepping away from the more neutral colorways typically used by the Boston-based brand. This pair was released exclusively on END via a raffle at a retail price of 110 euros.
The DIME x New Balance 860v2 Pack
Photo Credits: @dimemtl (Instagram)
Just a few months after the END Clothing release, the Montreal-based skate shop had the opportunity to express its creativity through this functional sneaker. DIME opted for understated colorways, offering a navy blue pair and a white-and-grey one, both featuring bright yellow accents, the shop's signature touch. The pack was released in August 2020 at a retail price of 170 euros.
The thisisneverthat x New Balance 860v2 Pack
Photo Credits: @thisisneverthat (Instagram)
For the Korean label and the brand known for its "N" logo, this was not a first collaboration! Indeed, prior to 2022, they had already created pairs together and continued their partnership with the thisisneverthat x New Balance 860v2. The choice of simplicity and elegance resulted in two monochrome pairs: an all-white version on one side and an all-black version on the other.
Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2
Based on the first visuals, the New York label has managed to stand out by offering three bright colorways with refined finishes that complement the Aimé Leon Dore SS23 clothing collection. The New Balance 860v2, which already earned a Runner's World editorial award a few years ago, will come in three different shades: red, green, and blue.
Photo Credits: @teddysantis (Instagram)
In the photo glimpsed on an Instagram story, nestled among several other posts, the red-accented pair features a cream mesh base, while the other two adopt a white mesh upper. To brighten the bold design, silver details paired with gold overlays adorn the upper. This partnership, which will certainly generate conversation in the coming weeks, stands out with its custom tongue bearing the inscription "Aiméleondore." Finally, the midsole equipped with Nergy technology, also found on the 1906R and 2002R, rounds out the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2.
However, no information regarding their respective prices or the exact drop date has been revealed. We hope they will become available during the Spring-Summer 2023 season. A little more patience will be needed before you can cop one of them!
UPDATE: All three pairs were available at a price of 165 euros via a raffle on AiméLeonDore.com, open until April 6, 2023 at 5:59 AM.
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