Like most sneaker manufacturers these days, New Balance is no stranger to collaboration. But in recent years, it has honed a specific and charming collaborative spirit to help flesh out its offering. Over the past five years, the Boston-based brand has tapped into brands (like Aimé Leon Dore, JJJJound, Todd Snyder and Casablanca) and celebrities (like Jaden Smith, Jack Harlow and Salehe Bembury) to give a new blows to their shoes. twirl. And to help launch their newest shoe offering, the RC30, they brought in none other than Donald Glover.
Style-wise, the RC30 isn’t too far off from the brand’s XC-72 and 327 sneakers, and is a smart reimagining of the sleek performance style of vintage running shoes. The silhouette even borrows from the New Balance Trackstar, adding a subtle yet dynamic curve to the vintage classic’s signature wave sole. Two colorways kick off the shoe’s debut: “Golden Hour,” which comes with a mustard base and white branding, and “Sea Salt,” which comes with a white base and blue branding.
New Balance’s Joe Grondin, who leads the brand’s global collaborations, shared that the collaboration offers “no strong colors or branding, just classic, easy-to-wear colorways of a new silhouette that matches the style of Donald”.
The sneakers are available through the New Balance website.
This story originally took place on British GQ with the title “Your first look at the new New Balance RC30 designed by Donald Glover.”