Official Images // New Balance 1906D “Protection Pack”

The blueprint for sneaker brands to reintroduce an archival model is no secret. In fact, it’s a fairly basic recipe; call in a notable collaborator to heighten the awareness of the silhouette’s reintroduction, then pepper the market with some flow-on general releases. It worked for the More Uptempo back in 2017 with Supreme, Virgil Abloh and countless Nike sneakers, and most recently, thisisneverthat and the New Balance 1906. Typically, these are followed by a slew of GR drops — which has again been the case for this model — with its next poised to join the revered “Protection Pack” series.

The distressed aesthetic was first seen on three 2002R colorways last year, before briefly hitting the 57/40 before returning to the 2002R in several new options this year. With an aesthetic is not too dissimilar to CDG’s work with Nike, the textural suede panels arrive in a similar vein to that seen on the Japanese label’s Air Force 1 Mid, with each cut and extended past their typical design lines, though here they feature a crimp-like cut around it’s edging. Drawing from its namesake, additional pieces are laid atop the traditional paneling. Exposed foam tongues are omitted, instead opting for a traditional finish, while aged-look soles remain.

Grab a very first look at the New Balance 1906D “Protection Pack” below courtesy of @kicksdong, and expect to learn more about the sneaker’s release as we head deeper into the year. As always, keep your eyes glued to our official Twitter account for further updates.

Update 09.01.22

Official Images of the New Balance 1906D “Protection Pack” have landed; A release date has not yet been set for the four-piece pack.