I am a sneakerhead episode 178 - @Newbalanced_life
First of all, could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Keith (@newbalanced_life)
For how long have you been collecting sneakers, do you remember what your first pair were?
So it’s funny I was never really into sneakers that much let alone collecting them. I would always just buy the occasional Nike and that was it. It wasn’t until March of 2020 when I got my first pair of New Balance. It was the Grey 990V5. I had a discount code that I received for my birthday so I decided to order a pair. I noticed that Ronnie Fieg and KITH were doing things with New Balance so I wanted to see what it was all about.
Giving your Instagram username, you must be a big fan of New Balance. Why is that?
So I knew once I received my first pair of New Balance, I was sold. The comfort was amazing and as I learned more and more about new models, I genuinely loved the aesthetics of it. I also really enjoyed the fact that they made a lot of their pairs in the USA as well as the UK.
Do you have any favourite NB release from both this year and in general?
It’s so hard to say what my favorite new balance is because there are so many good ones out there but if I had to choose my top 6 (in no particular order), I would say the two JJJJound 992 colorways, Packer 992s, Studio Fy7 992s, ALDV5, and Auralee 550. I thoroughly enjoy collaborations because of the quality and special details surrounding them.
You have probably already seen images of the upcoming M990V6, what's your opinion on them?
have seen a picture of the new 990V6 in the grey colorway. At first glance, I think I do like them more than the V5 because of the chunkiness of the midsole but I’m not completely in love with them yet. I will have to see more pictures as well as collaborations done with it.
What is your favourite NB model in general?
My favorite model is without a doubt the 992. To me, it is the most comfortable model and I love the chunky dad shoe aesthetic of them. So many great colorways and collaborations have been done on it as well. I have about 18 pairs haha.
Do you have anything on your radar at the moment?
At the moment, the only pair that is on my radar would be the WTAPS 992. I feel as though it is the one 992 that is missing in my collection and would complete it for me. However, I feel like it is nearly impossible to get them due to the high resale price. Maybe one day!
I’ve only really been involved with sneakers for a year and a half but through it, I have met so many awesome people on IG and in Facebook groups. It really is a great community. It’s a lot of fun searching for pairs and showcasing them on my IG. Lastly, I was inspired to start my own menswear company which is focused on luxury streetwear. The name of the company is called DAYS GONE BY (@daysgonebyco on IG). I know for a fact that if I didn’t get involved with the sneaker community, I never would have started it. Clothing and sneakers really go hand in hand and I wanted to make my own clothing that is minimal, luxurious, and comfortable that people can pair nicely with their sneakers.
Make sure to follow Keith on Instagram: