Aime Leon Dore Just Dropped a New Balance Collab That Will Sell Out
2024-06-01 · 5 min read
Aime Leon Dore and New Balance have become the most reliable partnership in sneakers, and their latest collaboration proves exactly why. Teddy Santis and his team reworked the 1000 silhouette in two colorways that pull from the earthy, ivy-league-meets-Queens aesthetic ALD has perfected. Think forest green suede paneling against cream mesh and hits of burgundy.
The 1000 is not the most obvious silhouette for a collab, which is precisely why this works. While everyone else fights over 550s and 2002Rs, ALD keeps mining New Balance's back catalog for overlooked gems. The 1000 originally dropped in the early 2000s as a performance runner, and its chunky midsole and layered upper translate surprisingly well into the current moment.
Materials are where ALD separates from the pack. Premium pigskin suede, breathable mesh, and a gum rubber outsole give these a hand-feel that immediately distinguishes them from general-release New Balance. The insoles feature co-branded detailing, and the tongue tags carry ALD's signature serif logo. Small details, but they add up.
Styling these is straightforward because ALD basically invented the playbook. Pleated chinos, a rugby shirt, white tube socks. Or go full weekend mode with their own sweatpants and a vintage tee. The earth tones make them versatile enough to work with nearly any neutral-heavy wardrobe, which is why ALD collabs resell so well.
Expect these to sell out within minutes of the drop. ALD releases generate the kind of lines and online traffic that most brands dream about. Their Mulberry Street flagship in Manhattan will have pairs, but your best bet is setting alerts on the ALD site and checking https://www.endclothing.com for international availability.
The retail price sits at two hundred dollars, which is steep for New Balance but standard for the collab sneaker market. Given that previous ALD x NB releases have held or increased in resale value, this is about as safe a purchase as hype sneakers get. Do not sleep on the drop date.
