In a globalized world, where the majority of sneaker production takes place in Asia, the production of sneakers in Europe is an exception. Up in the northwest of England, in the county of Cumbria, lies the tranquil town of Flimby, which has a population of just 1700. New Balance opened the factory there in 1982, at a time when the British textile industry was in the doldrums and many jobs were lost. In the beginning there were 40 employees, today there are more than 260 employees who work in all areas of production and produce up to 28,000 shoes a year "Made in England".
One of the first models was the New Balance 576, which contributed significantly to the rise of the brand. The employees are one of the main reasons why New Balance can afford to operate a factory in Europe. Many of the employees still active today have been involved in the production of shoes for over 40 years in some cases, and this is reflected in the quality of the products. However, not only our beloved New Balance sneakers are manufactured in Flimby, soccer shoes are also part of the production facility's portfolio. The price of Made in England sneakers from New Balance tends to be on the higher end compared to other models, but the knowledge of the great quality and fair payment of the employees justifies these prices in any case.
The successful history of the factory in Flimby is also due to the fact that the look and functionality of the products are always adapted to the spirit of the times. New Balance manages to keep up with the times with the factory in Flimby and still not forget its roots, tradition as a vision of the future, the high-quality products are witness to this. Small differences in the materials, in contrast to the North American production, provide here for the certain extra to the special look.The archive of New Balance, especially the one in Flimby, may not be huge, but it houses classics of the brand that make your mouth water. The most famous sneaker, which is produced in England, is the New Balance 1500, on which we from Overkill were allowed to immortalize ourselves in the course of the "City of Value" Pack. Initially, the 1500, released in 1989, was produced in the USA, but later in Flimby, where it is still produced today.