Culture
BEFORE, BREAKING & BEYOND: 40 Years of New Balance Made in UK at UrlfreezeShops Manchester
17 October 2022UrlfreezeShops and New Balance celebrate 40 years of the legendary Made in UK division with an in-store exhibition looking at the past, present and future of New Balance Made in UK.
This year marked a milestone in the history of New Balance and the wider sneaker landscape, with one of its most iconic lines turning 40: New Balance Made in UK. It’s a representation of four decades championing premium domestic craft, with New Balance’s Flimby factory synonymous with the best-of-the-best materials and construction techniques.
In light of the milestone, UrlfreezeShops and New Balance have joined forces to celebrate the legendary Made in UK division at our Manchester store, St. Mary’s Gate, with an installation delving into the past, present and future of New Balance Made in UK.
The installation is broken down into three parts dubbed Before, Breaking and Beyond, with each one focusing in on what makes — and, indeed, what will make — New Balance Made in UK such an integral pillar to the foundations of the sneaker sphere. The first element, Before, delves into the history of New Balance Flimby and the iconic products which have been developed at the institution. A selection of coveted previous releases, ranging from UrlfreezeShops collaborative footwear, like the “Grey Heron” 1500, to legendary partnerships like the Stone Island 577 are exhibited for visitors to enjoy up close. The second element, dubbed Breaking, will look at the slew of current releases from the iconic Made in UK division, showcasing why it remains at the forefront of innovation, craft and quality. With the third element, “Beyond”, we spoke with the Creative Design Manager of Made in UK, Sam Pearce, about his approach to design, as well as what the next 40 years might look like for New Balance and its Flimby factory.
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