New Balance Presents "Chocolate City" 990v4 & 992 Pack

New Balance continues to celebrate the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region with narrative-driven Made in USA footwear. Myles Williams, Associate Product Manager for Made in USA Lifestyle, recently took to social media to unveil the "Chocolate City" 990v4 and 992 duo.

For the uninformed, "Chocolate City" is an affectionate nickname for the nation's capital, inspired by the fact that D.C. became the first major U.S. city to have a majority Black population. Demographics have changed quite a bit since the late-1970s, but native-Washingtonians still remember their home city by the "Chocolate" moniker.

Designed by Gabriel Pimentel, the New Balance "Chocolate City" Pack features shades of "Pink Chalk," "Pumpernickel," and "Alabaster" across high-quality builds. The color schemes draw inspiration from fashion trends and cultural touch points in D.C. and nearby areas like Prince George's County in Maryland. These references may not be as obvious to outsiders, but, as has been the case with Joe Freshgoods' Chicago-informed New Balance projects, the work overseen by Williams makes perfect sense for other DMV-natives.

New Balance has celebrated the DMV for its role in helping popularize it within urban culture, but projects like the "Chocolate City" 990v4 and 992 duo see someone from the Culture on the inside. (This connection is why I think Wale should join New Balance.)

The Made in USA 992 opts for a near-tonal upper, whereas the accompanying 990v4 sees shades of brown, pink, and yellow divvy up real estate across the upper and sole unit.

Stay tuned for firm NewBalance.com release details, which should be disclosed soon.

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