While Nike and adidas have relied on shades of red and gold for their Chinese New Year decorations, New Balance is going against the grain as they dress up their recently revived 2002R in an extremely subtle “Year of the Ox” colorway.
Aside from the insole’s Ox-shaped graphic, the pair is relatively subtle in its inspiration, marking little with any overt CNY motifs. As is typical, New Balance and 2002R insignia stamp their usual points, some placed on lighter grey suedes, others a set of performance-informed reflective backings. The rest of the design is foundationally built atop black suedes and mesh, with panels atop contrast in layers of light neutrals, dark, forest greens, and muted indigos.
Grab a detailed look at this understated nod to the Ox right here, and if you can’t wait for the inevitable NewBalance.com release, they can be had right now on eBay.com.
In other news, the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 Yecoraite RF is exclusive to the Asia Pacific Region.