Product: Stone Island x New Balance 991v2
Price: To be updated
Release date: October 18
Shop here: To be updated
Stone Island has provided a sneak peek of its upcoming partnership with New Balance, unveiling a fresh footwear design called the 991v2. Contrary to popular belief, the design “991v2” is not a typo for “990v2”. The collaboration, based on the limited information available, appears to introduce a completely different silhouette.
The Italian sportswear brand and the USA-based footwear company initially united their creative forces for a unique version of the 577 back in 2013. This year marks the 10th anniversary of their collaborative partnership and it is the most opportune moment to introduce an entirely new shoe design.
The teaser for the 991v2 features an image of the outsole, displaying a prominent black Stone Island compass logo beneath translucent rubber. However, the name suggests that the design may be a fusion of styles, reminiscent of previous hybrid models like the 997.5, which combined a 997 upper with a 998 midsole.
Looking at more leaked images, the 991v2 is understated compared to the duo’s prior collaborations. The colorway is comprised of mostly deep blacks, grey and olive layers. The upper is constructed out of an olive ballistic mesh base with black and grey leather and pig skin suede overlays. A nod to its running roots, 3M hits can be found scattered across the upper.
In terms of technologies, the sneaker sits on a flowy Abszord foam midsole that seems to be housing Fuelcell foam. This should offer a plush underfoot feel to match the breathable and comfortable construction of the upper. When building this minimalist and simple colorway, the duo looked towards brutalist industrial spaces like warehouses and abandoned train stations.
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Following their inaugural collaboration in 2013, Stone Island and New Balance have jointly delivered a series of highly sought-after releases. This journey began with the RC ELITE SI by the Tokyo Design Studio in 2021, followed by the FuelCell RC Elite V2, a 574 Legacy edition, and a camouflage-covered football boot and kit collection in 2022. Earlier this year, they introduced the advanced FuelCell C_1. With the upcoming release, this would be Stone Island’s and New Balance sixth collaboration.
The Stone Island x New Balance 991v2 is expected to be released globally on October 18. Stay tuned for more information.