New Balance kicked off the sneaker loafer craze with a collaboration, as Junya Watanabe revealed the hybrid silhouette early in 2024 during its Paris Fashion Week show. Later in the year, after New Balance had launched the 1906L on its own, the project would release as the first collaboration on the model to date. But soon a second collaborator will enter the fold by way of Denmark.
The Ganni x New Balance 1906L takes the viral sneaker loafer to another level through (faux) gold snakeskin and black patent leather. The former material pops from directly above the foot and is matched by the color on one of the two heel pulls and the heel of the midsole. Black, gray and silver then form the remainder, which includes the glossy sheen of patent leather overlays. Ganni’s logo arrives through a metal badge within the right saddle, and co-branding is applied in mint green on a black insole.
Ganni and New Balance have taken to teasing their forthcoming collaboration without yet revealing it, but the sneaker influencer Sanne Poeze was gifted a pair to share on her Instagram page @girlsonkicks.
New Balance has found quite the range through its own numerous offerings of the 1906L, from more sneaker-forward mixes of mesh and synthetics to suede, patent and croc leather builds. Even the more snazzy of those renditions are practically quiet compared to Gianni’s rendition, proving there’s still plenty of gas in the tank for the sneaker loafer.
The 1906L is a remix of a remix. With a loafer-inspired upper, it’s based on the 1906R, which is itself a relaunched version of the original 1906 from 2009, with a sole unit borrowed from the 860v2. Numerous other sneaker loafers have since emerged from other brands, including Hoka and Jordan Brand.
The Ganni x New Balance 1906L will releaseon Wednesday through Ganni’s website. Pricing has not yet been confirmed but could be higher than the $165 the model typically commands.
Ganni x New Balance 1906L (lateral)
Ganni x New Balance 1906L (above)
