Issey Miyake x New Balance Team Up on Function-First MT100

Considering New Balance’s affiliation with high-end staples like Miu Miu and rumours of a Loro Piana project coming later this year, a team up between the Boston running brand and Issey Miyake seemed like a forgone conclusion and after months of anticipation, the cross-sectional collaboration is finally here.

Issey miyake is best known today for its Homme Plisse range and while the looming project with New Balance might lack the elegance of over-pleated garments, the collaborative MT100 model still adheres to Miyake’s ethos of respecting the natural mechanics of the human body.

In a press statement, Issey Miyake designer Satoshi Kondo said “The Issey Miyake x New Balance MT100 is a footwear collaboration created in line with the concept of barefoot mobility, designed in harmony with the notion of ‘natural and honest shape’, featuring a lightweight feel and grounding comfort.”

Arriving in three colour schemes, the shoe largely favours a leather upper, with injections of mesh at the toe area and tongue, plus moulded overfoot webbing for added stability. The sole is built from an uncharacteristically thin Vibram unit that offers durability while adhering to Issey Miyake’s goal of achieving a “barefoot” experience for the wearer.

The Issey Miyake x New Balance MT100 will first release on May 15th in Japan, with a global release via Issey Miyake and New Balance set to take place on June 14th.