New Balance prides itself on its Made in U.K. and U.S.A. credentials — even if the latter does sometimes get the brand in hot water — and these titles often come with luxury materials such as pig skin suede and buttery leather. Now, however, the quintessential NB classic, the 990v5, has been given a vegan-friendly makeover.
Served up in the footwear label’s signature shade of gray, the 990v5 Vegan has been updated with sustainability in mind, crafting each panel from a vegan alternative to the typical swathes of suede that adorn the shoe. Here, vegan leather has been used all over alongside gray mesh which lays underneath the shoe’s uppers, while plastic overlays appear on the three-quarter and heel cup.
At first glance, this vegan version is identical to the original offering. However, New Balance has cleverly adapted the “V” logo on the heel to feature a white and green colorway, nodding to its vegan nature, and the branding and badge on the tongue now appear in a grayscale finish.
Naturally, the EVA midsole is fitted with ENCAP technology and is rounded out with a rubber outsole. Take a look at the vegan New Balance 990v5 above, and head over to Sevenstore to enter the raffle, which is due to end on January 21. The sneaker retails for $297 USD.
In related news, New Balance has also brought back its 725 in two clean colorways.