A casual move with great effect.
KURINO: In honor of "Grey Day" on May 15, the "57/40 (Fifty-Seven/Forty)" model was released on the same day, featuring the classic "574" model and adding a new interpretation to it. Mr. Kurino, what is your impression of the "574"?
From left, [New Balance] "57/40 TA" ¥16,500 (tax in), "ML574 EGG" ¥10,890 (tax in)
Kurino: I have about 3 other colors instead of gray. The first pair of "576" I bought to wear with a suit had a similar design. They are simple, and I feel that they have a sense of grace in that they are not forced to be modified.
What do you think about the "57/40"?
Kurino: I thought, "This is one of those things that breaks the rules! I thought. For the past five years or so, fashion has been all about logos. Logos are on everything. For better or worse, it's easy to understand and simple. For my personal taste, I don't really like logos. So the only logoed items I own are New Balance or Lacoste.
Kurino: And so this "57/40". This big "N" was so big that it blended in with the design so well that for a moment I didn't even notice it was a logo. I thought this was great. It was quite an intelligent play, and I was struck in the knees thinking how clever it was. I would like to wear these next time.
I think the appeal of "New Balance" gray is that there are many gradations of gray mixed in a single pair, and this is just such a pair.
Kurino: There is nubuck, there is reflector, and there is suede. There are 9 or 10 different types of parts used, even at a quick glance? There is a lot of wisdom in this simple pair, isn't there?
But it seems as if all the parts were put together out of necessity, or the design is very casual.
Kurino: There is the idea of undesign, which is a technique that a graphic designer named Tibor Kalman was very good at. He published a book called "(un)Fashion," which means "not fashion. The book is entirely composed of stock photos and other available photographs, but he creates meaning by the way he creates the pages, so that each side of the spread is uniquely imaginative. He has also created a menu list for a restaurant in New York, which he brushed up well using illustrations from the dictionary. Both of them have a very stylish finish. In other words, a casual move that has a big effect. New Balance does the same thing, but in a way that resonates much more than just shouting about it. That's why I like this brand.
You are making a strong statement, but in a modest way.
Kurino: Yes, it is. At first glance, it doesn't make a statement, but it does make a statement.
