Stone Island has ghosted its partner New Balance. That isn’t to say there’s anything wrong in their relationship — the Italian fabric innovator is just bringing its monochromatic “Ghost” look to a new trio of sneakers.
The Stone Island x New Balance 574 “Ghost” collection sees the nearly 40-year-old sneaker appear in all-navy, all-gray and all-dark brown colorways modeled after Stone Island’s repeating collection of the same name. No deviation in color will be found in any variant, as each maintains a uniform hue throughout. A suede upper is hit with a brushed heel and “N” logo for textural contrast, but the sole unit and Stone Island patch tongue keep the color consistent. Even the thread used in the stitch-and-turn construction, which eliminates overlapping seams, stays true to the rule of one shade.
“Stone Island Product Research” is also subtly debossed into the lateral heel, and the laces take on custom ridges in reference to the trim on Stone Island’s “Ghost” pieces.
Steven Smith, also known for his work for the Adidas Yeezy line, designed the 574, which released in 1988 as a more affordable option in the 500 series of off-road running shoes. Despite being a budget shoe, the 574 went on to become an icon for New Balance and is considered one of the brand’s most quintessential “dad shoes.” Its primary feature is Encap tech, which uses a piece of EVA foam underneath a harder plastic ring on the heel for stabilization.
The Stone Island x New Balance 574 “Ghost” collection will release Sept. 23 through Stone Island’s website and select locations of its stores. Pricing has not yet been confirmed.
