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Name: New Balance 983Colorway: Shadow Blue/Zinc BlueSKU: U9835DUMSRP: $160 USDRelease Date: October 1Where to Buy: New BalanceNew Balance has unveiled the 983, a new lifestyle model that pulls the brand’s early-2000s running language into the present. Rather than reissuing a single archival shape, the 983 borrows pieces from across New Balance’s catalog and reassembles them into a silhouette built for everyday wear.The 983 centers on the elliptic form of the ABZORB SBS pods, a cushioning cue lifted from the brand’s performance era, and sets them against wave moldings that run through both the outsole and the midsole. That undercarriage sits beneath a dual-density midsole and a upper layered with synthetic underlays and rounded synthetic overlays, with the familiar ‘N’ logo positioned on the saddle. A stitch-and-turn collar and reflective detailing along the upper round out a build that reads as considered rather than nostalgic.Taken together, those details push the 983 toward something more sculptural than the running shoes that inspired it. New Balance frames the model as sitting in a “new dimension,” a silhouette that feels recognizable at a glance yet carries its own distinct design vocabulary. It is a familiar strategy for a brand that has spent recent years converting its deep running heritage into fashion currency, using the texture and form of old performance tech as the foundation for new lifestyle pieces.The cultural half of the launch runs through a global campaign uniting ambassadors Coco Gauff and Aminé, two figures with sharply different aesthetics enlisted to show how far the 983 stretches across looks. Built on the premise that style is never one-dimensional, the campaign leans into individuality and self-expression, positioning the shoe as a base layer adaptable to whoever is wearing it. Gauff, who helped shape the concept, described styling the model as an exercise in range. “It was fun bringing the vision to life with Aminé and getting creative with styling the shoe in different ways. I love pieces that are fashion-forward but still easy to wear, and the 983 goes with any outfit,” she said.

SummaryBeijing designer Syn Zhuang won the inaugural Jordan Design Studio program by reimagining the Air Jordan 1.Her versatile, women-focused design features a transformable suede collar and a softer toe box for comfortable everyday wear.Jordan Brand launched the inaugural Jordan Design Studio program in July, inviting creatives from major cities around the world to reimagine the Air Jordan 1 silhouette. Announced as the winner among a roster of global creatives, Syn Zhang from Beijing stripped the design back to its essence, while also making the silhouette more versatile than ever before.Through the program, creatives from Seoul, Tokyo, Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Beijing, and Shanghai were mentored through the process, resulting in original design concepts inspired by themes of identity, community, heritage, ambition, and local culture. At Jordan’s “The One” event in Shanghai on August 31, Zhuang’s design, made in collaboration with mentors Yue Wu and Ji Ming, was selected among eight finalists.On her personal Instagram page, Zhuang shared more insight into the design: “A classic doesn’t have to be one fixed form. It can exist in different ways, to reach different people. I wanted this shoe to offer a little sense of ease — not laziness, not giving up, just a feeling that it’s okay to loosen up and be yourself.” View this post on InstagramA post shared by synful. (@synfulzhuang) Most noticeably, the upper of Zhuang’s AJ1 is redesigned with a transformable suede collar that conceals the toe box and lacing system. When worn up, the collar reveals a backwards swoosh, mirroring the perforated swoosh on the lateral panel. And when folded over, the upper swoosh then faces the right direction. Zhuang talks through more details in the post, saying, “I kept the heel — that subtle curve where two fabrics meet, which carries a hint of elegance, almost like a heel. I covered the toe fully and made it rounder, softer, less sharp.” By keeping the soles and heel panel in-line with the original design, the silhouette maintains its classic character, or in Zhuang’s words the “soul” of the shoe.”Zhuang aimed for the designs to speak to the needs of female wearers like herself: “A lot of girls love basketball culture and the AJ1 silhouette — but the original was born on the court, designed with a male wearer in mind,” she explained. “In today’s streetwear context, for many girls, it’s more of a daily piece — worn to work, on dates — yet it’s still stiff, heavy, and sharp-toed. So I started thinking — if a shoe is truly classic, it should be able to accompany more people, in more everyday moments. That’s how this idea came: take the original AJ1 and remake it so it feels right for girls too.”See the gallery above for a closer look at Zhuang’s winning design from the inaugural Jordan Design Studio program.  

Brazilian footwear icon Havaianas and Brooklyn-based label KidSuper have officially unveiled their collaborative four-piece footwear collection. Building on an ongoing creative partnership, the latest capsule bridges the gap between traditional athletic inspiration and avant-garde street style. KidSuper founder Colm Dillane applies his distinct design language directly to the renowned Havaianas footwear frame to merge art and sport.The unquestionable centerpiece of the release is the Havaianas x KidSuper “Top Turf Pitch” sandal. Originally previewed during KidSuper’s FW26 runway presentation at Paris Men’s Fashion Week, the model features an unorthodox material overhaul. The entire silhouette is wrapped in lush green velvet designed to recreate the visual and tactile sensation of a football pitch directly beneath the wearer’s feet. This structural choice connects directly to the “futebol arte” inspiration driving the collaboration.Beyond the velvet flagship model, the collection includes three additional styles featuring original printed artwork by Dillane. These graphic iterations focus on vibrant colors, movement, and the expressive character motifs that define the KidSuper design universe. Every pair in the four-piece lineup is finalized with exclusive co-branded detailing and specialized collectible packaging. Inside the box, buyers will find a custom card equipped with four distinct metallic pins meant for personalizing the sandals alongside a co-branded KidSuper gym sack.The partnership physically extends to São Paulo, where Havaianas and KidSuper restored a public football court. Transformed using original artwork by Dillane, the space eventually served as the physical setting for the campaign shoot.The release also builds upon Dillane’s deep personal relationship with Brazilian culture. A passionate football fan and former player, he previously lived in the country and spent time at Esporte Clube Vitória in Bahia. His connection to the Portuguese language and local football lore serves as the foundational creative exchange behind the footwear designs. “Havaianas is such a Brazilian icon, and for me that made it a really exciting canvas to play with. We took this shared love of football and brought it into the KidSuper world through color, art and a little bit of the unexpected. The result feels like both brands, which is always what you want from a collaboration”, Dillane said in a statement.The KidSuper x Havaianas collection drops globally at Havaianas stores on September 8, but will release earlier via KidSuper stores and KITH Los Angeles, New York, Paris and UK.