Following Action Bronson's Collab, the New Balance 1890 Is Here to Stay

New York City's very own Action Bronson recently added another New Balance collaboration to his expansive list of projects. For his latest, the multi-hyphenate forwent any overt "dad shoe" from the brand's catalog; instead, he opted to help introduce a new silhouette—the ABZORB 1890—to market.

Similar to the widely-popular New Balance 2000, the artist's most recent footwear canvas boasts ABZORB cushioning underfoot, a technology that played an important role in the company's running lineup throughout the aughts. As with some of the brand's more ubiquitous styles of the last five years, the ABZORB 1890 features visible technology—also referred to as "viz-tech"—similar to the 860v2; the new model's sole unit, however, is directly borrowed from the original New Balance 2002, a highly-technical performance sneaker that was brought back in the early 2020s as a lifestyle offering.

The ABZORB 1890 is being positioned in a similar segment of the market, but it champions New Balance's technical heritage in the process.

Despite much attention being due to the shoe's sole unit ("ABZORB" is in its official product name, of course), the upper also deserves consideration.

As seen on Action Bronson's collaborative duo, the New Balance 1890 features a series of welded reflective "teardrops" around the forefoot. Though rooted in performance running enabled by the NB 890v3 from 2013, the high-frequency detail delivers a futuristic touch that couples well with ongoing retro sports trends.

No-sew cutout patterns, mesh bases, and padded collar and tongue areas provide breathability and comfort.

Enjoy shots of the inaugural ABZORB 1890 ahead. Pairs will begin rolling out via NewBalance.com on Thursday, March 12, for $180.

For more footwear from the Boston-based stalwart, check out the AC Runner.