Who Is Action Bronson?
Action Bronson does a lot of things. Born Ariyan Arslani in Flushing, Queens, he worked as a chef in New York before switching to rap at the start of the 2010s. His music is vivid, funny and packed with food references, and it earned him a loyal following. He never stopped cooking either. He hosted the travel and food show F*ck, That's Delicious, wrote cookbooks and built a personal brand around the idea that food, music, art and fashion all come from the same place.
Acting roles followed, but it was his lifelong love of sneakers that brought him into footwear. Bronson was a collector long before he was a collaborator, with strong opinions on materials, colour and construction. Through his own label Baklava, that background turned into one of the most colourful partnerships New Balance has ever run.
Updated October 2026
The New Balance Partnership
New Balance has long been the brand for people who value craft and quiet design over loud logos. Bronson flipped that script. His palette is bold, playful and never afraid of colour, and New Balance gave him the freedom to push its most traditional models into new territory.
In return, Bronson brought an audience from music, food and streetwear that had not always paid attention to New Balance. His releases sell out fast, and every new drop is now one of the most talked-about New Balance launches of the season.
990v6: Where It Started (2023)
The partnership launched in March 2023 with the 990v6 'Baklava', a Made in USA runner in neon green mesh, brown suede and orange, sitting on a bright blue sole. It was the opposite of the grey dad shoe the 990 is known for. In June 2023 the 990v6 'Lapis Lazuli' followed, named after the gemstone, with deep blue suede, teal accents and a cream sole.
| New Balance x Action Bronson 990v6 'Baklava' (2023) | New Balance x Action Bronson 990v6 'Lapis Lazuli' (2023) |
1906R, Minimus and FuelCell (2024)
In 2024 Bronson took on the 1906R. The 'Rosewater' mixes pale mint, pink and purple with an orange sole and neon laces, while the 'Medusa Azúl' goes for deep blue mesh with metallic silver details. Later that year he moved into performance with the M10 Minimus 'Pluto' trail shoe and the FuelCell Rebel v4 'Foxtrot', proving his colour approach works on running tech too.
990v6 and 992 (2025)
Bronson went back to the 990v6 in April 2025 with the 'Amazõnia', a loud mix of magenta, purple and tan, plus the 990v6 'Untitled'. In September 2025 the 992 got the treatment: the 'Tiger Eye' in orange and tan suede with a blue heel, and the 'Digitalis Purpurea', named after the foxglove flower, in pink and purple.
| New Balance x Action Bronson 990v6 'Amazõnia' (2025) | New Balance x Action Bronson 992 'Tiger Eye' (2025) |
| New Balance x Action Bronson 992 'Digitalis Purpurea' (2025) |
1890 and the Baklava 2811 (2026)
In January 2026 Bronson picked the 1890 for the 'Cyborg Tears', in blue and silver with an orange sole, followed by the 'Hornet Tusk' in cream, navy and amber.
The biggest step came in summer 2026: the 2811, his first signature shoe with New Balance. Bronson chose the number himself and called it the Baklava 2811. The upper combines mesh, TPU overlays and suede, with co-branding on the tongue. The 'Mikročpske' launched first in July 2026, with more colourways including the 'White Blue' following.
Design Philosophy
What sets Bronson apart from many celebrity collaborators is how he approaches design. He does not treat footwear as merchandise. He treats it as a creative medium, like writing a song or building a recipe. His colour choices are instinctive and personal, and the names of his releases, from gemstones and flowers to planets, show where the ideas come from.
He likes bold colour blocking and unexpected material mixes, but nothing is random. That willingness to take risks has also pushed New Balance to experiment, showing that its classic silhouettes can take even the most adventurous treatment without losing their character.
Legacy
In just over three years, Action Bronson has gone from first-time collaborator to one of only a few partners with his own New Balance model. His shoes are wanted because they are interesting products: memorable colourways, premium materials and real stories behind them. In a market full of safe collaborations, Bronson's work stands out because it refuses to play it safe.
Browse every Action Bronson collab on KLEKT.
Images: New Balance / Baklava / KLEKT
