Say the words "New York" to a certain subset of people and they're bound to add "City" at the end, all on their own. Even if you've never set foot in Manhattan or Brooklyn or the Bronx or Queens—or, if you're really adventurous, Staten Island—you probably know at least one person who considers the five boroughs the entire scope of New York. But there's a whole lot more to it than that, a fact to which everyone who knows anyone who talks about "going upstate" all the time can attest.
There are the Catskills and the Adirondacks. There are cozy little towns tucked away, not far from the Hudson. Hell, there's even Albany. New York—the city, the state, all of it—contains multitudes. And today, New Balance and J.Crew are paying homage to all of it.
If you're familiar with NB, you might be scratching your head right now. Wait, aren't those folks from Boston? Yep, you're right. But J.Crew is based in New York, and apparently the bonds of collaboration were enough to convince the Massachusetts contingent to put aside any Red-Sox-versus-Yankees-style rivalry and work on a shoe that pulls inspiration from the state flag of New York, plus the rugged landscapes you can find when you venture out of the metro area (or just into Central Park). Look out for the blue and orange you'll find on the flag—or at a Knicks game—accompanied by a rich brown suede and a gum outsole that serve as pretty direct references to the natural world beyond the skyscrapers.
Call it the best of both worlds if you like. Or just call it yet another sure-to-sell-out release from the collaborative relationship we're all glad didn't hit the skids during the pandemic. But whatever you do, don't hesitate if you want a pair for yourself. Like all things in New York (City, at least), these sneakers are bound to go fast.
