New Balance’s Latest Lifestyle Sneaker Is Part Futuristic, Part Retro
One of the biggest post-pandemic trends in lifestyle athletic footwear has been the boom of 2000s-era running shoes. Mesh uppers, metallic synthetics and visible cushioning setups have been go-to design cues for top sneaker brands. New Balance in particular has found great success with its 1906R and 1000 models, but the brand isn’t relying solely on retro looks to carry the load.
After debuting the New Balance Abzorb 2000 in January, Brazilian stylist Gustavo Soares returned to Instagram Monday to reveal the latest look at the brand new model. Several previously unseen angles and colorways of the Abzorb 2000 were showcased, giving a look at the possibilities for the sneaker’s versatile design. The new shots include a pile of the first-teased ice blue colorway, all-black and all-gray executions, a pink-and-white pair and more.
The shots also give a detailed look at the Abzorb 2000’s finer points which include a sleek, fused upper with flush overlays, a medial side devoid of any branding and the shoe’s standout feature: its segmented. visible Abzorb-cushioned midsole. All told, the model delivers a futuristic aesthetic while at the same time resembling something that could have been sourced from the brand’s Y2K archive.
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In advance of the Abzorb 2000’s official reveal, Soares appears to have been selected by the brand to help with the rollout. Like the stylist’s January posts, Monday’s social media teaser was supported by numerous New Balance employees.
While its aesthetic is not quite as 2000s-informed as the Abzorb 2000, New Balance recently introduced another new model in the similarly named Abzorb 2010. Select sizes in that model are still available now from newbalance.com.
A release date for the New Balance Abzorb 2000 has not been announced, but the sneaker is expected to make its debut soon. In April, a billboard teasing the sneaker’s arrival at retailer Slam Jam was spotted in Milan.
