NEW BALANCE’S 650R: A REMASTERED CLASSIC

Following on from the wildly popular 550 sneaker, New Balance have introduced a high-top counterpart to the fabled basketball style. Exuding the same energy and aesthetic cues as the earlier sneaker, the 650r perfectly blends 1980s court design with a modern sensibility.

A man holding a basketball wearing the New Balance 650r sneakers.

A woman with a basketball modelling the New Balance 650r sneakers.

A man modelling the New Balance 650r sneakers.

A man and a woman modelling the New Balance 650r sneakers.

Perfected for the contemporary lifestyle arena, the 650r was plucked from the archive by the brand’s Made in USA creative director and founder of Aimé Leon Dore, Teddy Santis. Originally released in 1989, the basketball sneaker combines of-the-era style codes with comfortable and durable design. A high foam collar and Ortholite insole ensure comfort and support, while the model carries over details from the 550 such as heel branding, perforated side walls and numbering towards the toe box.

A man and a woman modelling the New Balance 650r sneakers in front of the London skyline.

A man and a woman modelling the New Balance 650r sneakers on a basketball court.

A man shooting a basketball into a net, wearing the New Balance 650r sneakers.

Two people modelling the New Balance 650r sneaker with a basketball.

While plucked from the archives, the 650r sneaker offers a modernised update to the once forgotten style. With the “R” in the shoe’s naming standing for “remastered”, subtle details have been adapted or improved, creating a truly contemporary sneaker with a rich history and legacy.