Double Tap to Zoom

New Balance is turning the sneaker scene blue —indigo, to be exact.

For the 35th anniversary of the New Balance 1500, New Balance Made in Japan is releasing new limited-edition colorways of the techy ‘80s sneaker, including an indigo-soaked iteration that's as rich in hue as it is in legacy.

Indigo dyeing (aizome) has been a motif of Japanese design since the 12th century, and the New Balance 1500 is joining this esteemed lineage of indigo-hued apparel.

In fact, New Balance isn't the only sneaker brand paying homage to the time-honored tradition of aizome.

For their third collaboration, AIREI and ASICS honored Japan's rich history of indigo with limited-edition handmade sneakers that were almost more art than sneakers.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Only three pairs of the hand-dyed anniversary New Balance 1500 sneakers will be given away, and another pair will be kept on display in the New Balance Harajuku store. So, yeah, the indigo colorway is going to be quite hard to get ahold of.

But don't worry too much. The special-edition New Balance 1500 will also be available in a light grey colorway with blue and cream accents, so if you aren't one of the lucky three selected, there's still a chance you can get in on the New Balance 1500's birthday fun.

The Made in Japan New Balance 1500 sneakers are set to release in November, exclusively on New Balance's Japanese website for 79,200 yen or about $520. This is a bit pricier than the standard UK-made New Balance 1500, which retails for about $240, but can you really put a price on celebrations?

After all, a sneaker only turns 35 once, right?

We Recommend
  • New Balance's Apricot-Flavored Dad Shoe Is a Tasty Fruit Snack
  • The Miu Miu-Coded, Cortado-Colored New Balance Is For Literal Coffee Runs
  • Steve Jobs’ New Balance Dad Shoe Looks Just as Good 20 Years Later
  • From New Balance to Nike, Browse This Week’s Best Sneaker Releases
What To Read Next
  • Having Traveled Through Time & Terrain, the Air Force 1's Now Officially "On Tour"
  • These Air Max 90s Are Made for Two-Footed Slide Tackles
  • adidas' Gorgeously Muted Tokyo Sneaker Thrives in the Gray Area
  • Vans' HOKA Sneaker Is Still Way Cooler than Your Average Runner
  • This Y-3 Mule Is for the Cowboys
  • adidas' Chromed-Out Ballet Sneaker Is Too Pretty to Fight