New Balance x Aime Leon Dore

This creative synergy has greatly increased both brands’ visibility and cultural influence. Their releases have often won “sneaker of the year” awards, and have played a key role in promoting the Dad Shoe trend among fashion enthusiasts and avid sneakerheads alike.

This all culminated in the appointment of Teddy Santis as Creative Director of New Balance’s acclaimed ‘Made in the USA’ line in 2021. His new role perfectly illustrates just how powerful this partnership was and how it has influenced how New Balance designs its collections going forward.

Key Releases in the New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore Collection

The New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collection brought us incredible sneakers and apparel collections that reflect clean design and strong cultural themes. Each release featured premium materials , sophisticated color palettes , and unique design elements that reflect ALD’s unique style. Here are some of the key releases from the collaboration – check out which pair could fit into your collection:

New Balance 997

It was the release that kicked off this incredible collaboration. The ALD version of the iconic New Balance 997 featured a grey suede and mesh upper, highlighted with bold colours like pink, purple and yellow. The second version opted for khaki and burgundy – a more natural vibe. Retailing for around $220 at launch, it quickly sold out and remains highly coveted on resale platforms to this day.

New Balance P550 Basketball Oxford

The revival of the vintage ’80s P550 Basketball Oxford was a turning point for the collaboration. Featuring a white leather upper, perforated panels, and old-school outsoles for a retro look, the shoe became one of the most popular sneakers of the decade. Initially priced at around $130-$140, it won over sneakerheads with raffles and limited editions—it was both affordable and elusive.

New Balance 827

The lesser-known but iconic New Balance 827 model surprised everyone with its vibrant colors on a lightweight mesh base. Built for comfort with a sporty touch, it retailed for around $150 in limited quantities through ALD and select retailers.

New Balance 1300

The ALD version of the iconic New Balance 1300 emphasized subtle luxury. Soft pastel hues combined with rich suede textures created a sleek look perfect for everyday wear. At the time of release, the price was around $170, and availability was limited to online draws and boutique releases.

If you’re planning on shopping this collection, be prepared to find many pairs only on the secondary market like Aplug – often at premium prices due to their limited availability.

The ongoing success of New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore lies in its ability to combine heritage silhouettes with modern aesthetics while maintaining an exclusivity – making each release not only stylish, but also collectible.

The significance of the New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collaboration

The New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collaboration has become a standout example of modern sneaker partnerships . Its emphasis on authenticity, storytelling, and long-term goals sets it apart from others. Rather than relying on one-off limited editions , the collaboration has built a strong, ongoing narrative that has transformed the way brands approach collaborative projects in fashion and footwear.

The collaboration began in 2019 when Teddy Santis brought his New York sensibility to New Balance’s identity. The result was more than just a co-branded sneaker—it was a cultural moment. By combining New Balance’s heritage of craftsmanship and classic sporty style with Aimé Leon Dore’s refined menswear aesthetic, the two brands created products that are both modern and timeless.

This combination helped set the collaboration apart in a crowded marketplace of superficial partnerships, setting a new standard for what an authentic collaboration could be. It emphasized thoughtful design over hype, resulting in collections that resonated deeply with sneaker enthusiasts and fashion consumers.

This collaboration has significantly increased the brand visibility of both companies:

• New Balance : Reached a younger, more style-conscious audience that previously ignored its legacy models.
• Aimé Leon Dore : Gained global recognition for his creative approach and cemented his position as a key player in modern streetwear culture.

A groundbreaking moment was the revival of archival silhouettes like the P550 basketball shoe—originally released in 1989—which ALD reintroduced with premium materials and sophisticated color palettes. A move that not only honored New Balance’s history, but also fit right in with current trends favoring retro aesthetics.

The success of models like the 993 “Taupe” and the SONNY collection further demonstrated how this collaboration combines performance heritage with lifestyle appeal. Each drop is accompanied by carefully crafted campaigns that reflect shared values: community, nostalgia and refined elegance.

The collaboration doesn’t just sell shoes—it builds a cultural ecosystem. Through ongoing storytelling, limited but meaningful releases, and immersive brand experiences (like pop-ups and editorial lookbooks), it keeps audiences engaged and attracts new followers. Its mix of cultural relevance and commercial success has made the New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collaboration an influential model in the fashion and sneaker industries—one that many other brands are now aspiring to.

The Influence of Sneaker Culture Between Aimé Leon Dore and NB

The New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collaboration had a huge impact on sneaker culture , introducing a new style with a focus on refined aesthetics , high-quality craftsmanship , and thoughtful storytelling. Unlike the loud, media-driven designs typical of streetwear, this collaboration highlighted subtle details and premium materials , shifting the culture toward a more understated and refined look.

Before the collaboration, New Balance was mostly known for performance running shoes and dad-core fashion. The brand had a loyal following but lacked the cultural currency of players like Nike and Adidas in the lifestyle sneaker space. That’s when Aimé Leon Dore (ALD), a New York-based brand founded by Teddy Santis, entered the scene, bringing a fresh energy rooted in nostalgia, heritage, and elevated streetwear. Their first collaboration with New Balance in 2019 revived classic models like the 990 and 550 with a modern twist—connecting generations in sneaker communities.

The New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore collaboration not only elevated New Balance’s image, but also set a new standard for what modern sneaker culture could be – and should be –: intentional design underpinned by narrative depth that resonates across generations.