New Balance 9060 Teal Tan

If one pair in the range deserves to be handled before buying, it is this. Four materials in a single shoe, smooth suede, hairy suede, embossed leather and mesh, all held inside a teal and tan family. The rest sits in New Balance 9060.

Specifications

• Brand New Balance, collaboration release
• Model 9060 on a gum base with a cream midsole
• Material teal suede with hairy tan suede
• Embossed blue leather at the wing
• Silver grey N logo
• Small violet heel loop
• Brown laces through metal eyelets
• Unisex sizing

Material before colour

Most people choose a shoe by colour. Anyone who knows footwear chooses by material, because material decides how the shoe looks after a year rather than after a day.

Design philosophy

The hairy suede at the heel will change more over time than the smooth suede at the toe. That is intended. The shoe was designed to age unevenly, exactly as fine leather goods do.

Material quality and our inspection standard

During inspection we noticed the violet heel loop is made from flexible rubber rather than rigid plastic, bending under pressure and returning. That small detail is what separates collaboration releases from standard production. The brown laces are also braided cotton rather than glossy synthetic.

The acquisition experience

Quantities are very small and move quickly. We send photographs of the actual pair before shipping on request over WhatsApp.

Styling

Wear beige, brown, olive and cream above it. Teal performs beautifully beside earth tones. For a simpler release there is New Balance 530, and the full comparison lives in New Balance. For blue on a slimmer frame there is New Balance 327, lighter and easier to style day to day.

Frequently asked

Is it the same as the other teal and brown release

Same series, differing in the proportion of hairy tan and slightly in the teal value.

Does the hairy suede shed

No. We tested with a light rub and it left nothing on the hand.

Does the gum base yellow

Gum rubber is warm toned already, so yellowing never shows the way it does on white.

Is it right for daily use

Structurally yes, though mixed materials make cleaning take longer than on a single material shoe.