For the premiere of “Pair of the Month”, the Original team has chosen the sixth version (V6) of the 990 Made in USA from New Balance.

History of the Iconic pair

In the late 70’s and 80’s, more than 20 million Americans started running. Many running shoe companies jumped on the bandwagon to meet the demand. One such company was New Balance. From 1978 to 1982, it devoted all its time to the research and development of a completely new type of shoe, the 990.

Created in 1982, the 990 was designed to be the best running shoe on the market. At the time, it was one of the most expensive pairs in the business. It was also the first pair to retail for $100.

That same year, Nike’s white Air Force 1 was released and sneaker fans were looking for an alternative, which is when the 990 came into play.

In 1998, version 2 was released with a new wave of technology applied across the range.

In 2007, sales of the 990 skyrocketed, thanks in part to Steve Jobs donning New Balance trainers during the presentation of the first iPhone.

New versions of the pair were released in 2012, 2016 and 2019. After more than 40 years of success, the model remains unique.

The V6, February’s favourite.

The new V6, released last December, succeeds in presenting a new, revitalised and simplified version of one of the brand’s most iconic pairs.

Using New Balance’s signature colourway, the brand manages to apply shades of grey to leather and suede overlays.

This modern version adds one of their new innovations to the sole: Fuelcell. It promotes greater responsiveness and improves running performance. The firm has evolved the material by adding more compression capacity to provide responsive cushioning.

NB also uses another technology on this pair: ENCAP. It allows, among other things, thanks to the combination of EVA foam and polyurethane to increase the feeling of comfort and protect the joints during a race on hard ground. This same technology will soon become the DNA of many pairs of the brand.

The team’s opinion

As soon as we saw the prototype, we were excited to receive it. We liked the design of the V6 right away, mixing vintage and novelty.

Thanks to the different products used, we adhere to the overall quality of the pair. New Balance does a great job of mixing leather and suede and making the silhouette of the pair natural and harmonious.

Even if it can also be worn by men, we decided to take it for women because of its slightly wedge sole.

With this pair, New Balance makes us want to go back to the basics and wear it in the gym, but let’s not forget that it no longer has the same purpose and that its premium level of finish defines it as a pure lifestyle pair

                                                                                                  L.F

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L'Original - Sneakers Shop Belgium