Most of the ballet sneakers of the last two years started as sneakers and were slimmed down until they looked like flats. The New Balance Flat Breeze goes the other way. It is a ballet flat first, with just enough sneaker in it to wear all day, and it is one of New Balance's first real steps into the trend.
The model was developed in Korea and launched there in late April 2026, where some colourways reportedly sold out within minutes. Now it is starting to travel, with Black, Red, Mint and Silver arriving in Singapore and Malaysia this October.
The New Balance Flat Breeze Design
The shape is pure ballet: a rounded toe, a low cut-out upper that leaves most of the foot open, and a stretch strap across the instep. On top sits a single-loop lace that wraps across the strap and ties in a bow, which is where most of the ballet look comes from.
The sneaker part is in the details. The upper is built from panels of smooth leather with perforations on the toe, wavy overlays along the side and a small 'new balance' tab on the heel. Underneath, a thin rubber outsole keeps the shoe close to the ground, and an OrthoLite insole with the NB logo adds some comfort that a classic flat usually does not have.
Each colourway changes the mood. The Red pairs a deep red upper with white laces and a black sole, almost like a vintage gym shoe. The Black is the most wearable, the Mint is the softest, and the Silver works best with the metallic look that has been everywhere this year.
New Balance and the Ballet Sneaker Trend
The ballet sneaker trend has mostly been driven by adidas and Puma. The Taekwondo Mei Ballet and the Speedcat Ballet turned slim, low-profile shapes into everyday shoes, and collaborations with Jennie and Rosé took them even further. We explain how they compare in Ballet Sneakers Explained: Taekwondo, Speedcat and More.
New Balance has been known for running silhouettes like the 990 and the 2002R, so the Flat Breeze is a clear change of direction. It also feels less like a remix of an old sneaker and more like its own model. If you want to compare, these ballet sneakers are on KLEKT:
New Balance Flat Breeze Release
The New Balance Flat Breeze released in Korea in late April 2026 in Black and Red, followed by Mint and Silver. Since 20 October 2026, all four colourways have been arriving in Singapore and Malaysia via selected New Balance stores and online. The style codes for the first two pairs are SD2601BK for the Black and SD2601RE for the Red.
A European release has not been confirmed yet, and there is no euro price. With the Flat Breeze now leaving Korea, more markets should not be far behind. The first two colourways are already on KLEKT:
| New Balance Flat Breeze WMNS 'Red' (2026) | New Balance Flat Breeze WMNS 'Black' (2026) |
For more from New Balance, read our New Balance 990v7 'Kool Grey': First Official Look.
Check out the New Balance Flat Breeze WMNS 'Red' (2026) on KLEKT
Images: New Balance
