The Story Behind the New Balance Coco Delray, the $110 Tennis Shoe Inspired by Coco Gauff's Upbringing

New Balance has proven itself an ally to the Black community through initiatives like Conversations Amongst Us, which have produced products, speaker series, and campaigns by and for Black figures from its extended family. Additionally, the Boston-based institution has bet big on Black creatives, entrepreneurs, and athletes, entrusting them with full creative license on footwear, apparel, and accessories rooted in narrative. Cori Dionne "Coco" Gauff is the latest personality to use New Balance's backing to highlight an untold story, introducing the Coco Delray tennis shoe in the process.

Unveiled to the public right in time for her 21st birthday, the New Balance Coco Delray is a $110 performance silhouette enriched with personal anecdotes and Black history. Gauff was born in Atlanta, but she spent a lot of time in Florida's Delray Beach, a city in Palm Beach County with a historic population of African-Americans and folks from The Bahamas. Much of her early tennis formation took place at Pompey Park's public courts. Similar to Venus and Serena Williams' experience in Compton's Lueders Park, Gauff's time in Delray Beach gave her close proximity to a community that rooted her on before she reached the game's biggest stages.

Campaign visuals for the Coco Delray tennis shoe feature slices of the Floridian city. An 82-seconds clip posted to the platform formerly called Twitter by New Balance shares footage of a young Gauff training in Delray Beach, as well as glimpses of the community celebrating her. The video is narrated by her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, who desegregated Palm Beach County schools as a 15-year-old. In Fall 1961, she became the first Black student to attend the all-White Seacrest High School (now Atlantic Community High).

The New Balance design team looked at some of Gauff's favorite off-court models for inspiration. Visual and performance cues acquired from the ongoing Coco CG series also informed the Coco Delray.

A lightweight, mesh and synthetic upper delivers breathability and ease-of-movement without sacrificing durability and containment. The film that covers the bulk of the tennis model's top-half protects against wear from toe-dragging motions. FuellCell foam found in some of New Balance's elite-level performance footwear products provides cushioning to the commemorative design.

Underfoot, NDurance rubber offers a multi-directional pattern and reliable traction fit for the U.S. Open or pick-up games at your local tennis court. A nylon plate visible from the outsole ensures torsional stability.

Inaugural color schemes of Gauff's latest signature shoe arrive for Men and Women, and draw inspiration from Delray Beach.

Enjoy official photos of the debut Coco Delray collection below. A Women's 'Parchment' style is currently available via NewBalance.com alongside a 'White/Navy' pair in Unisex sizing. More colorways are set to launch in April and throughout summer for $110.

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