New Balance Crafts Another Formalwear Sneaker With The New Balance 1890

The recent loafer trend in footwear best exemplifies the fusion of high fashion and sportswear. Not only are traditional loafers from fashion brands seeing an uptick in popularity, but the Frankenstein-esque sneaker-loafer was kicked off by the New Balance 1906L last September. Since then, the model has flown off the shelves, and other brands have entered the niche space, but New Balance is ahead of the game again with the all-new New Balance 1890, which leans into another realm of the formalwear aesthetic.

Marrying the aesthetics of a Clarks Wallabee, derived from traditional mocassin designs and other loafer and formalwear designs, this first look at the 1890 sees the model coated in cream leather and faux snakeskin. The latter of the two materials wraps around the mudguard, forms the midfoot paneling, appears near the top of the tongue, and extends back onto the heel.

N branding, which typically finds itself on the midfoot, is reserved for the toebox, similar to the 1906L design. The tongue tag also displays black New Balance branding. Inside the sneaker is NB 1890 branding, done in a cream finish. The textured leather around the collar and the tonal lace set finish the upper. Below sits an ABZORB-cushioned midsole in black, appearing quite similar to the tooling found on recent hits like the 1906R and 2002R.

However, this tooling setup is more akin to the original tooling of the aforementioned models, as the modern interpretations of the 1906R and 2002R feature the sole unit from the 860v2. Original versions of these two shoes utilized NERGY cushioning in a pod-like format in the heel and forefoot, with a branding window on the heel. This setup is done here, but ABZORB is used instead, which has become a focal point for the brand with new designs like the 2000 and 2010.

The New Balance 1890 has no official release information at this time. Still, considering it debuted during Paris Fashion Week, we’ll likely see the model in early 2026. Check below for sneaker images and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.

New Balance 1890

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com