Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
Yes, $560 retail.
New Balance is continuing its tradition of handmade Japanese exclusives in collaboration with local bespoke manufacturer M. Lab for a pair of brown leather 576s, and they’re pulling out all the stops for a white glove release.
New Balance and M. Lab have been working on limited edition handmade Japan-exclusive sneakers since 2018, and the latest Made in Japan shoe covers the classic silhouette in chocolate brown premium local leather, with a grey New Balance “N” logo on the side, cream accents, and more grey on the heel with a hand-stitched NB logo in brown. The midsole is a two-tone blend of white and black, and the heel stabilizer and laces are both cream.
New Balance 576 Made in Japan
In addition to the luxurious leather and handmade construction of the shoe itself, the limited edition pair is packaged like a pair of dress shoes, in individual dust bags, with reusable shape-retaining pillows and a shoe horn, all featuring custom 576 branding. The shoe will be released as an online exclusive, but leading up to the release, the newly renovated New Balance Harajuku store in Tokyo will have the shoes on display and allow people to try the shoe on for a guaranteed fit preference before ordering online.
The New Balance 576 Made in Japan will be released December 19, 2025 exclusively through New Balance website. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at ¥86,900 (approx $560). For all the latest New Balance news, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
