After fusing athletic and formal footwear on its groundbreaking 1906L sneaker loafer, New Balance is back again with another radical mash-up.
A never-before-seen New Balance 1890 model surfaced on social media late Wednesday and already has people buzzing. Although the origins of all the photographs are uncertain, the new model was previewed by New Balance EMEA senior marketing manager Lee Stuart and images were re-shared by Korean account @le.syndrome on Instagram. The pair was presumably previewed as part of Paris Fashion Week, although it doesn’t appear to have been featured in any particular showing.
The New Balance 1890 continues the hybrid concept introduced on the 1906L sneaker loafer, using a full-length, Abzorb-cushioned midsole reminiscent of the N-ergy underfoot setup featured on the original 1906 and 2002 models. For the 1906R reissue, New Balance instead implemented the sole of the 860v2, a likely cost-cutting measure. The 860v2 setup was previously used on the 2002R sneaker and the aforementioned 1906L loafer, but now, it looks like the Boston-based brand has plans to revert back to the original full-length build.
As for the rest of the 1890, the model dons a Clarks-like moc-toe upper in a soft yellow leather with snakeskin overlays. A two-eye lace configuration furthers the Clarks comparisons, while molded lines around the ankle give the shoe some added sneaker-style flair.
While the 1890 may have not appeared on the runway (yet), New Balance had a Paris Fashion Week presence through its low-profile 204L collaboration with Japanese fashion brand Auralee for spring 2026. Two styles of the slim-soled sneaker were featured in white and brown.
A release date for the New Balance 1890 has not been announced, but given its recent reveal, it’s likely the pair will arrive at retail before the end of the year. FN will share more updates as they’re confirmed.
