New Balance - Made in USA
New Balance was founded in 1906 in Boston in the US state of Massachusetts and produced its first pair of running shoes as early as 1938.
New Balance - Made in USA
Of course, New Balance also produces sneakers in the Far East, but tradition obliges and so there are currently five factories in the USA. This makes the brand a novelty, as it is the only major sports brand to rely on local factories with production in the USA and England, which also makes a statement. More than 4 million pairs, which corresponds to about a quarter of the total production, leave the factories of the traditional brand every year.
New Balance manages to combine modern techniques with craftsmanship here as well, similar to the much smaller production in Flimby, England. The nearly 220 employees, who work in a family atmosphere, produce 1500 pairs of "Made in USA" New Balance sneakers daily. Efficient work is the be-all and end-all on the production lines; each employee has an average of 22.5 seconds for his or her work step. That sounds pretty tight at first to produce a high-quality product, but it's necessary to keep up with the competition from Asia. Up to 55 individual steps are required, depending on the model, from punching the raw material such as leather to sewing the individual parts and marrying them with the sole unit.
Although you might not think it in these technological times, the necessary handwork and years of experience of the employees are a guarantee for the quality of New Balance Made in USA sneakers. In addition to some performance models, the Boston factory primarily manufactures models in the 9 series. First and foremost, the New Balance 990V5, but also 992, 997 and 998 proudly carry Made in USA on their tongue label.
