After its introduction via a two-style collaboration with Action Bronson featuring “Cyborg Tears” and “Hornet Tusk” styles, the New Balance Abzorb 1890 is now ready for its wider launch.
Unveiled Wednesday by the Boston-based brand, the Abzorb 1890 is a 2000s-inspired model which combines elements from retro New Balance designs for an entirely new sneaker. To start, New Balance looked to 2013’s 890v3 running shoe, playing off the sneaker’s synthetic wave cutout pattern, which features the addition of new reflective welded “tear drop” accents.
The cushioning of the 890v3 is perhaps the most interesting element, as the new shoe repurposes the midsole of 2010’s 2002 running shoe. Best known to today’s consumer in its scaled-down 2002R form, the full-length midsole of the Abzorb 1890 marks the first time the original 2002 cushioning has been used since the ’10 iteration.
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“For projects that reference archival models, a lot of the design process is focused on refining and improving existing elements without losing what made them special in the first place. The goal is always to strike the right balance—creating something that feels modern and compelling while still staying authentic. I’ve been at New Balance for long enough that the shoes I wore early in my career are now starting to show up as archive references, which is a pretty full-circle moment. I actually used to run in the 890v3 when it was on the market, so having the opportunity to modernize a silhouette I’m personally familiar with made the process especially fun and meaningful,” James Lee, lead footwear designer of energy, global collaborations and Tokyo Design Studio at New Balance, said in a press release.
For the Abzorb 1890’s formal unveiling, New Balance tapped photographer Nikolai Ahn for a campaign shot in Seoul. According to New Balance, the Ahn-shot images tap into the Abzorb 1890’s duality by “moving between the city’s playful streets and its restorative natural landscapes.”
Along with the aforementioned Action Bronson collaboration, the Abzorb 1890 has also been the canvas for the upcoming 1890A moccasin hybrid, which was on display at Paris Fashion Week.
The New Balance Abzorb 1890 will be released March 12 at 10 a.m. ET from newbalance.com and can also be found at select New Balance retailers. It will debut in the Faded Black/Utility Green colorway seen here (style code U189071H) with a retail price of $180.
