Kith Is Dropping the First Collaboration for New Balance’s Fresh 2000s-Inspired Sneaker
New Balance is wasting little time in building momentum for its latest sneaker. On the very same day the Abzorb 2010 got its debut release, Ronnie Fieg announced Kith will give the 2000s-inspired model its first collaboration.
The Kith x New Balance Abzorb 2010 will come in two colorways and coincides with the reopening of Kith’s Manhattan flagship. Purples and pinks connect to the two variants, and Fieg dropped a personal note on his website to share his connection with the brand-new model.
After reminiscing about the blogs and downloadable mixtapes that defined the era, Fieg wrote: “Over a year ago, I began having conversations with New Balance about debuting a brand new silhouette—the 2010. It’s a model that feels as relevant today as it would have then. The name made me reminisce on that time in my life, so for this release, I wanted to take it back.”
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Both variants for the sneaker come with a suede, nubuck and mesh upper, Kith monogram “N” logo and darker sole unit. One starts with a pink mesh base overlaid with paneling in purples, blue, and charcoal, as well as purple Abzorb SBS pods in the heel. The other gets a black mesh base and several overlays in the same color, as well as hits of yellow, purple and pink and silver Abzorb SBS pods.
Fieg shared a rare behind the scenes look at the process of creating the two colorways, with the final products forming the top row in the arrangement of eight sneakers in the photo above.
“We went through multiple rounds of midsole blocking, experimenting with everything from dark and tonal looks to high-contrast versions before landing on the most authentic balance,” Fieg wrote. “I kept the co-branding subtle, using our Kith monogram inlaid on the N logos. I tested some asymmetrical versions but am most happy with where we landed. Two shoes that represent both the past and the future.”
The Kith x New Balance 2010 will release May 16 in-store for the reopening of Kith’s Manhattan flagship on Lafayette and Bleecker Streets. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, but the first 2010 release cost $160.
