New Balance 9060 trainers

9060

In the late 2010s, a fashion trend emerged for Y2K-era styles that repopularised New Balance’s heritage running shoes. With a desire to create something new, the brand challenged experienced designers James Lee and Yue Wu to make a silhouette that paid homage to iconic sporting footwear from years gone by while also looking to the future. The result was the New Balance 9060.

Beginning in 2019, Lee and Wu had to adapt their design process due to the global pandemic of 2020. For months, they collaborated remotely as they searched for ideas in the New Balance archives, eventually drawing on the 99X series and the 860v2 as their primary inspirations.

With these in mind, Lee and Wu used the concept of movement to inform the look and function of the 9060. The pair worked on different elements, with Wu producing a breathable yet durable upper made from mesh, suede and leather. He wanted to achieve a dramatic effect, so added multiple Sway Bars, dynamic mismatched logos, elegantly embroidered branding effects and a unique tongue patch based on a distinctive element from the New Balance 991.

Lee brought an equally bold look to the sole unit, giving it exaggerated pods of ABZORB cushioning alongside a striking outsole that was an eccentric take on the one from the 860. The dual-density foam midsole was incredibly comfortable, while an enlarged CR device with a textured, translucent surface was added to the heel as an eye-catching detail that also stabilised the foot.

After two years of development, Lee and Wu had their finished product. They called it the New Balance 9060 after its foremost influences, the 990 and the 860. For the launch, they recruited visionary collaborator Joe Freshgoods, who crafted two elegant colourways for the ‘Inside Voices Pack’. Inspired by 90s culture and featuring his favourite shade of pink alongside classy embroidered details, both shoes were a big success when they came out in May 2022.

Two months later, with the hype and excitement generated by this collaboration, New Balance launched the debut general release colourways of the 9060. They quickly became popular, and fashion magazines declared it the “sneaker of the summer”. More colourways followed, with influential music stars Jack Harlow and Aminé each fronting stylish advertising campaigns that brought the shoe even greater attention.

This led to a series of creative collaborations with fashion labels like Mowalola, Bodega and DTLR, as well as one with Olympic runner Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. As its popularity grew, the 9060 was adopted by fashion-conscious celebrities like Margot Robbie, making it a must-have lifestyle sneaker.

The New Balance 9060 is the ideal homage to Y2K-era running shoes. Created by two designers with a deep affection for the brand’s heritage footwear, its bold, exaggerated aesthetic and comfort-giving features make it a highly popular sneaker that works just as well for everyday wear as it does in a stylish outfit for a night out.