Salehe Bembury has previewed his next collaboration with New Balance, revealing two new takes on the 1000 sneaker via Instagram. Known for his work with multiple footwear brands, Bembury continues to build on his creative relationship with New Balance, this time applying his signature color-driven approach to a silhouette that originally launched in the late 1990s.
SNEAKERS
The New Balance 1000 re-entered the spotlight last year in honor of its 25th anniversary. Since then, it has held a steady place in the brand’s lifestyle offerings. With Bembury stepping in, the sneaker adopts an even more experimental tone. His designs push the shoe’s mixed material structure into louder territory, combining suede, synthetics, and textiles with a wide-ranging color story.
In the teaser, Bembury reveals both left shoes from each colorway. One version features a palette of lavender, orange, green, yellow, red, and white, a combination that leans into warmth and contrast. The second shoe counters with an earthier look, using brown, forest green, and purple alongside sharp hits of blue, red, and neon green. While only partial views have surfaced, both pairs suggest a visual energy that aligns closely with Bembury’s recent work.
The 1000’s layered construction provides a perfect format for this kind of experimentation. Its panel-heavy build invites complex textures and color segmentation. Bembury uses that to his advantage, ensuring that no part of the shoe fades into the background.
Bembury’s relationship with New Balance has produced several standout releases in the past, each drawing attention for their use of materials, palettes, and irregular compositions. While he continues to expand his BeASpunge label, his collaborations with larger brands still feel personal.
So far, neither Bembury nor New Balance have shared an official release date. The brand has not yet posted the shoes through its own channels, and no confirmed images of the right-foot shoes have emerged. Still, the teaser hints at a rollout later this year, most likely through BeASpunge, New Balance, and a selection of partner retailers.
