Cool Hunting

In response to a handful of emails about a post I wrote last week about the New Balance 574s, I thought I'd clarify a couple of points.

I said that the company was started by an Englishman. 33 year old William J. Riley immigrated to the US from England, and later founded New Balance in Boston, Massachussetts at the start of the 20th Century. Depending on your interpretation, he was an Englishman, an Englishman living in the US, or an American of English heritage.

I also said the shoes were made in the UK. While many models (the 1500/575/576/860 and special editions of the 990/991) are indeed made in New Balance's UK factory in Cumbria in the North of England, pictured above, the Japanese-designed 574s are made in Hong Kong.

More information can be found at New Balance's UK website.

Thanks for your emails, we appreciate them.