Tokyo Design Studio strikes gold with this another iteration of the New Balance 574 . You wouldn’t be wrong to assume that the 574 was part of New Balance’s quintessential design when it first released in 1988, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Released as a hybrid road to trail shoe, the silhouette ventured away from the narrow racing design at the time, making this shoe’s status all the more surprising to the people over at New Balance. Considering the shoes defying nature, it made the perfect choice for the TDS 2040 edition, a confident step forward into the world of hybrid sneakers and dress shoes.
The upper is one most of us are familiar with, even without the large “N” on the side wall. The midsole is back for this 5th iteration of the 2040, its original shark sole developed with Vibram as a nod to New Balance’s Trackster that came out in 1960. Similar to the classic NB grey, the charcoal palette swallows the nubuck and mesh, two materials that give the silhouette a deserving premium touch. On both the toe and heel lies 3M accents, details that remain from the shoe’s road running DNA. The rubber ankle support is stitched onto the heel with a red thread, contrasting the blue dual density foam underneath, a minor detail that speaks to the intricate design process. Inside, the TDS moniker lies on the footbed, a subtle hint towards the collaborative effort.
This project carries on the defiant spirit of the New Balance 574, with Tokyo Design Studio capturing the silhouettes energy on this hybrid edition. Find out where you can grab this “Charcoal” version by tuning into The Sole Supplier!
