NB ST33 Luggage Pack Launch in Beantown

This quarter's NB Super Team 33 is designed by Jon Grondin , representing the U.S. Region. His inspiration came from one of last year's ST33 parties, or more specifically, from sitting in an airport on the way home. He got to people watching, (which for some of us means sneaker watching), but since he's a designer and materials guy, he was luggage watching. Lucky for us he saw some very practical--and luxurious--materials! Here's what they inspired (on a 998 silhouette, for NB afficianados...)


I can personally assure you that the leather on the toe of this one (above) is the softest leather I have ever felt! I also like the 3M and cordura on the one on the far left. (But I'm still happy to leave home without some reptile skin luggage, which also reminds me of my mom's phaux-something address books from back in the day.)

The party had a solid crowd, but was a little short on sneaker content and sneaker heads. Nevertheless, I managed to find a few women wearing kicks, and a few sneaker friends from the Boston scene... (thanks to FSFer Kiara for all the pics.)

Me and C, a knowledgable sneakerhead from Concepts Store in Harvard Square. Here's to women who can actually drop knowledge about kicks instead of just be window dressing!

These were the only women we saw in kicks! Otherwise it was high-heel-pointy-toe city.

Here's part of the NB crew, including Joe (left) who's now in charge of the NB Lifestyle division, and Lauren, who's the one who got us our Chicken Runs for y'all...

Rob, aka Problak, serious collector and graf artist, still reppin' the 3 stripes at a NB party

Can't leave out Kiara, FSFer for life who always knows how to have a good time (with our friend Kwest)

ST33 coming out with its 4th quarter shoe

For those of you keeping track, this version finishes up New Balance's first year of their exclusive Super Team 33 project. (Wow, that went by fast!) As the final set, this one is from the Asia/Pacific region, and the sneaker designers there have decided to use the three models to celebrate the elements: earth,wood, fire,metal and water. On the heel of each shoe is the Chinese character representing that element. The "fire and metal" 1400 shoe honors the role of fire as it refines metal, "earth and wood" pays homage to our planet and its ability to nurture all living things, and "water" (my favorite), is a stand alone tribute to the power of water. Here it is:





Yea, I think they really outdid themselves on these! Just gorgeous works of art. Still no word about the smallest sizes, but they should go down to at least a size 7 men's.

ST33 earth and wood

The second shoe in this series honors earth and its ability to support all life. The shoe includes beautiful touches from heel to toe...

ST33 fire and metal

And the final ST33 in this set celebrates fire and metal, and fires power to shape metal. On the heel of one shoe is the Chinese character for fire, while the other represents metal. And like the others, fine details abound.



Yup, these are fire! See you Oct 20th...