We love sneakers, we also love wearing them, flexing them, and even reselling them. One brand, in particular, has been consistently killing it on the market lately. New Balance went all out on multiple occasions with dope collabs, cool colorways, and solid drops generally. But as responsible consumers and die-hard sneakerheads, we should answer the following question. Where are New Balance shoes made? You see, the brand takes pride in its “Made In” lines. But are they really made in those places? Let’s find out together right now, shall we?
Where Are New Balance Shoes Made? US, UK, Japan & More…
So, you decided to buy your first pair of New Balance kicks. However, when you started your research, you couldn’t tell where the kicks actually come from. Naturally, you asked yourself, where are New Balance shoes made? Well, we wish we could tell you that they all come from one country, but they don’t. You see, New Balance has production and assembly facilities in multiple countries that we will break down for you now.
Made in USA
You probably saw this phrase pop up at some point during your research. And you probably asked yourself, are these kicks really made in the US? Well, here’s how NB decides what’s made in the US and what’s not. Obviously, as a US-based brand, the roots are deep with this one when it comes to shoe production. In fact, NB has manufacturing factories in Massachusetts and Maine. However, keep in mind that the Made in USA collection makes up a small portion of the actual sales in the US.
Now, for a pair of shoes to be considered “Made in USA”, at least 70% of it has to be sourced from US factories. In other words, major parts of the kicks are domestically manufactured. And the brand naturally takes pride in being the only major brand to do that. This is a statement about it from the brand: “Designed without compromise and constructed with authentic American craftsmanship for over 75 years, the Made in USA mark is the symbol of our very best, for those who would accept nothing less.”
Silhouettes under the US production banner: 990v2, 990v3, 990v5 Core, 990v6, and 993.
Made in the UK
Just like the USA line, the UK and Japan both have their specific production line. For the United Kingdom, New Balance expanded its production to the country in 1982. You can expect quality products and British craftsmanship to go into those babies. Moreover, the kicks that fall under the Made in UK banner are generally limited-edition with premium materials. Artisans use traditional techniques and modern tech to assemble the kicks. Now, just like in the US, 70 to 75% of each shoe gets its components and gets assembled at the Flimby factory.
Silhouettes under the UK production banner: 991, 991v2, 1500, 574, 576, 577, and R770.
How About the Rest of New Balance Shoes?
Well, as we already mentioned, the two lines we talked about make up a tiny portion of New Balance products. For example, just like the US and UK, there is a Made in Japan line. However, the bulk of production happens in Asian countries like Indonesia, China, and Vietnam. So if you’re picky about your sneaker’s country of origin, you might wanna do your research before. Godspeed!
