A First Look at the New J.Crew x New Balance 1400 Sneakers

J.Crew and New Balance have teamed up to resurrect the classic New Balance 1400 sneaker in sleek navy. The American multi-brand, multi-channel, specialty retailer has long since been an innovator with New Balance, a footwear manufacturer who makes their wares in the USA. 

Launching on April 4th, the American-made shoe calls on J.Crew's collaboration with New Balance in 1994 and then revisited in 2010: The 1400 sneaker. Aptly named midnight navy and navy steel, the main inspiration for the two distinctive color offerings was the sky's inky blue color at midnight. 

Though J.Crew has frequently re-colored the New Balance 998 sneaker, the last iteration of this silhouette was a color called "Fort Greene" released in 2015, encapsulating the tree-lined vistas of Fort Green Park in Brooklyn, New York. 

"This exclusive pack of made-in-the-U.S.A. sneakers is a throwback to our very first collaboration almost a decade ago with New Balance," a J.Crew representative said via email. "This new pack features two pairs: An old-school navy and white colorway designed with a moonlit evening sky in mind, and a sleek, all-navy pair representing a dark, moonless night."

The navy and white style features a bright white midsole, gum outsole with a suede and mesh upper. The New Balance logo pops with a white contrasting background. The solid navy style features lighter and darker blue hues, with a navy midsole, gum outsole and dark navy suede and mesh upper.

The two retro runner styles are available exclusively on J.Crew's website for $180, below.