Latest news with #MadeinUSA1300JP
Man of Many
3 days ago
- Business
- Man of Many
New Balance ‘Made in USA 1300JP': Hands-On With the $500 Sneaker That Releases Once Every 5 Years
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 30 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. The cherry on top of Grey Day 2025 is the New Balance Made in USA 1300JP, which is only released every five years. You rarely get the chance to get your hands on a near-handmade sneaker from one of the biggest brands on earth, but now's your chance as the 1300JP is set to be released on and New Balance The Galeries store beginning on May 29th, 2025, with a suggested retail price of AUD$500. It might sound crazy to spend this much money on a pair of sneakers, but the 1300JP is specially crafted in New Balance's Skowhegan, Maine, manufacturing facility. Here, it is produced with a level of detail, expertise, and premium quality that is quite frankly unrivalled in the sneaker world, especially amongst the top brands. 'The 1300JP is a shoe like no other, an emblem of the soul of New Balance, that is prized by collectors and appreciators around the globe,' said Shinichi Kubota, Vice President, New Balance Japan. 'Even before joining New Balance myself 34 years ago, I was inspired by my father's work with the brand on the innovative sole design for the original 1300JP. This legacy model has been a constant throughout my career at New Balance, from spending years perfecting the first reissue to working diligently on each subsequent launch to subtly evolve the style while remaining true to its roots.' New Balance 1300JP | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many To provide some historical context before I jump into my hands-on thoughts, the 1300JP was first released in 1985. It was known for its combination of technological innovation and premium materials, but it was never appreciated as a pure performance running shoe. It was all about comfort, style, and wearability, and people were happy to pay for it. When it was released, the New Balance 1300JP had a retail price of nearly USD$130, which significantly raised the ceiling for sneaker prices. That works out to be about AUD$460 in today's money! Sneakerheads know that this is a special shoe, but in an industry where cost-cutting is constantly changing (ruining) the most famous sneakers in the world, it's refreshing to see a brand reproduce a shoe in its original form with only minor changes. New Balance has kept the construction true to the shoe, with a slightly updated design that adds premium comfort and design features. Cushioning is provided by full-length ENCAP alongside premium materials, mostly nubuck and mesh. New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance The first reissue of the 1300JP was in 1995. It has been released every five years, celebrating the brand's rich heritage and building anticipation for this extremely limited release every year since. It's one of those shoes that you almost don't want to put on your foot. You know it's going to be a comfortable shoe, but it's equally a work of art, constructed in a special factory that only produces the brand's most famous models. There's some 574-like design here, which was a takedown model that launched at a more affordable price-point back in the day, but has gone on to be a successful shoe in its own right. However, I find that this shoe has a more authentic appeal, utilising elevated materials and with meticulous craftsmanship. It's easy for me to see (and feel) why this shoe continues to capture the attention of fashion and sneaker culture every five years. 'With 2025's launch, we are excited to continue the 1300JP's legacy, showcasing the Confidential – Not for Public Consumption or Distribution design's timeless appeal to loyal fans and a new generation,' said Kubota. The 1300JP is set to be released on and New Balance The Galeries store beginning on May 29th, 2025, with a suggested retail price of AUD$500.
Hype Malaysia
5 days ago
- Business
- Hype Malaysia
Crafted In The USA, Worn Everywhere: New Balance Drops 1300JP 2025
The other shoe has dropped! New Balance has unveiled the 2025 iteration of the Made in USA 1300JP – the legendary style released just once every five years. Coming this May during 'Grey Days,' the 1300JP stands out as one of New Balance's most sought-after styles, not only because of its rarity, but because of its impeccable craftsmanship and unique place in global sneaker culture. Released in 1985, the original 1300 was lauded for its combination of technological innovation and premium materials. The superior cushioning provided by full-length ENCAP and the shoe's premium nubuck and mesh construction redefined the public's understanding of what a luxury running shoe could be. Even though the original 1300 shattered the era's established price ceiling, the shoe quickly gained traction amongst consumers, particularly in Japan. New Balance fans began wearing the 1300 not just to run, but as a mark of status and taste, rooted in the culture's deep reverence for craftsmanship. The discerning sneaker-buying public paid extra close attention to the details of the shoe, where the immense care taken to construct each component was evident – down to the subtle individual irregularities created by hand stitching. The 1300 elevated standards of quality and craft to a level that transcended performance footwear. Demand for the original led to a cult-like following, inspiring the reissue of the 1300JP in 1995. Celebrating the brand's rich heritage, New Balance has since re-released the 1300JP every five years. The anticipation for this extremely limited release is part of what makes it so special. The style's authentic appeal, elevated materials, and meticulous craftsmanship, continue to enthral fashion and sneaker culture alike with each new release. 'The 1300JP is a shoe like no other, an emblem of the soul of New Balance, that is prized by collectors and appreciators around the globe. Even before joining New Balance myself 34 years ago, I was inspired by my father's work with the brand on the innovative sole design for the original 1300JP. This legacy model has been a constant throughout my career at New Balance, from spending years perfecting the first reissue, to working diligently on each subsequent launch to evolve the style in subtle ways while remaining true to its roots. With 2025's launch we are excited to continue the 1300JP's legacy, showcasing the design's timeless appeal to loyal fans and a new generation' said Shinichi Kubota, Vice President, New Balance Japan. Meticulously crafted in New Balance's Skowhegan, Maine manufacturing facility, the Made in USA 1300JP is produced with a level of detail, expertise, and premium quality that is unrivalled in the sneaker world. The Made in USA 1300JP will retail for RM1,399 and drops in Malaysia on 29th May 2025. Cop it online at The Grey Shop and through raffle draw at the New Balance Malaysia page.
