Last year, Action Bronson put his stamp on New Balance’s Made in USA flagship, the 990v6. His debut Baklava colourway swapped out the brand’s traditional mix of greys for a flavorful mix of neon greens, oranges and ocean blues, taking it to a space no one thought it would go. In 2024, the rapper/chef is turning his eye to the 1906R, providing it with a smörgåsbord of new colours.
We first caught a glimpse of this collaboration during the last Paris Fashion Week, where Bronson was seen on stage rocking a green and orange pair. On the Complex Sneakers Podcast, he discussed how his upcoming 1906R series would be “inspired by nature”. This orange and yellow is called the ‘Scorpius’, and is set to be the rarest pair from this series.
Since Paris Fashion Week, Bronson has also shown off a blue pair, reminiscent of his Lapis Lazuli 990v6. However, he has stated the inspiration for this colourway came from the Medusa Azúl or Portuguese Man o’ War.
Lastly, around the new year, Bronson teased his third 1906R, the ‘Rosewater’. This colourway comes in white, with hits of pink, orange, and a multicoloured sole. This Zinfandel look is inspired by Bronson’s appreciation for the aesthetics of women’s aerobic sneakers. After images of the ‘Rosewater’ were leaked, Bronson declared it as being “the most polarizing shoe of 2024”.
It’s not just Action Bronson who’s been pushing the 1906R. Salehe Bembury has given the model his signature conceptual edge with the ‘Heat Be Hot’ pack which dropped this week. This pack features two colourways, a fiery ‘Lava’ pair in a yellow-to-red gradient with silver overlays, and a magma-red pair with blue overlays.
The 1906R has formed a key piece of New Balance’s lifestyle line over the last couple of years, alongside its cousins, the 2002R and 860v2. But these collaborations make it clear the 1906R is looking to take centre stage.
Stay tuned to KLEKTIVE for more news on these collabs. Plus, check out Bronson’s 990v6s, available on KLEKT
