Salehe Bembury says new year, new shoes.
Just five days into '24, the lauded American footwear designer took to Instagram to tease his latest Crocs silhouette, a totally original, The Last of Us-esque tread he’s calling the Juniper. (See it here.)
Three days later (so, yesterday) he returned to the social media platform to officially announce the launch of not one, but two new trainers soon to erupt from his on-going collab with Boston-based footwear big shot, New Balance.
It's a pack he's been teasing since last summer, and it's appropriately red-hot.
There's 'magma' and there's 'lava'.
Each is a fiery adaptation of the New Balance 1906r, the ultra-comfy 2020 update of the 2009 '1906' running shoe.
'Magma' amalgamates flaming hues of red and orange with intense shades of blue seemingly inspired by blue lava (worry not, here's a BBC Science Focus cheat sheet), as well as a mineral purple and an ash black.
'Lava', on the other hand, sees a metallic silver exoskeleton soldered atop a gradient mesh foundation that moves from red to yellow. This upper is set off nicely by a grey midsole and a rock blue sockliner.
Both are complete with a sooty finish on the midsole and a laboratory-inspired tongue tag that ties into the science class theme of the campaign.
Plus, double branding on the sidewall: a red and yellow Salehe Bembury tab is stitched into the exoskeleton on the lateral side and an orange New Balance 'N' on either side of each shoe.
Together they form the 'Heat be Hot' pack, a moniker that might sound strange to those new to the Salehe Bembury x New Balance collab, but seamlessly fits into a series that comprises 'Peace Be The Journey', 'Water Be The Guide', 'Yurt' and 'Sand Be The Time'.
Where and when is the Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'Heat be Hot' pack dropping?
The Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'magma' and 'lava' trainers are confirmed to drop on Thursday 11 January at 9am (that's 5pm GMT) on Bembury's own webstore, beaspunge.com.
Like previous collaborative releases, we can expect the shoe to drop on New Balance's official webstore and at NB retailers like End and SNS in the following weeks.
Check back soon for more information.
How much will the Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'Heat be Hot' sneakers cost?
The Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'magma' and 'lava' trainers are expected to cost around £155, the same price as general release pairs of 1906rs, like the ones below.
New Balance 1906r 'Silver Metallic with Classic Crimson and Sea Salt'
New Balance 1906r 'Silver Metallic with Blue Agate and Sea Salt'
New Balance 1906r 'Harbor Grey with Silver Metallic and Concrete'
New Balance 1906r 'Silver Metallic with Sea Salt and New Spruce'
How do the Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'Heat be Hot' sneakers fit?
The Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r 'magma' and 'lava' trainers are expected to be slightly narrow. Ergo, if you're in between sizes we recommend that you opt for the larger size.
