Carhartt WIP X New Balance

Carhartt WIP has always been careful in choosing their collaborative partners, only working with influential figures the likes of Converse, Clarks, and even Toogood. And following quite a while since their last foray into sneakers, the label is now welcoming another familiar name into their circle: New Balance. For their first collaboration, the two have prepared a capsule inclusive of footwear, apparel, and accessories. The collection’s theme is modeled after a sculpture center, a series of neighborhood gyms that can be found all throughout America. This inspiration takes shape in both color and motif, the latter of which consists of collegiate-styled typography and trophy graphics. Alongside canvas jackets and jersey-constructed basics, the range is helmed by the 990v1, which takes on a mesh and hairy suede construction. The shoe’s base is rendered in a dark grey, while the laces, heel tab, and midsole opt for a light, off-white finish. Adjacent, the “N” logo and lining lean a bit darker, albeit nowhere near the degree of the navy-tinged overlays throughout the upper. Co-branding, then, rounds out the design, doing so along the heel tab, tongue, and sockliner.