Matt Varga At this stage, it’s less a subjective opinion and more an objective truth that New Balance is at the fore of the formalwear-meets-sportstyle movement. The New Balance 1906 Loafer has risen to become the face of the aesthetic, but even amid that silhouette’s success, the creators in Boston keep pushing forward outside of it, testing the boundaries of how far their stable of runners can take to more refined applications. Given the “love it or hate it” reactions their previous efforts have already elicited, we’re sure it’ll be the same as a new contender enters the mix: the New Balance 1890.
Whether intentional or not, our initial glimpse at this model catches it in a do-up bound to make a strong first impression, forcing together pale yellow and faux snakeskin leather, the latter weaving across the can with branching curvilinear overlays. Though the apron this shoe wears is a hallmark of any loafer footwear, comparisons to the Clarks Wallabe in overall shape are already patently obvious. The dip in the collar hardens that point, but radiating embossing below that section helps distinguish NB’s contribution.
While the 1906R sole unit (started by the 860v2 New Balance 327 "Primary Pack" 2002R) has become the platform for many an offshoot in the years since, New Balance digs deeper into their history for the bottom quartile of this shoe. Indeed, 1906 is still relevant in this discussion, but the N-ergy formulation from its original 2009 release that appears here. Intriguingly, the chief cushioning tech is swapped out within that unit, maintaining the layered contours and overall shape but instead switching into ABZORB, already in the spotlight for NB this year via the 2000 and 2010.
First looks at the model come partly by way of Lee Stuart, Senior Marketing Manager for the Boston brand. That tacit co-sign likely means that we’ll see the 1890 hit the scene sometime in the coming months; given the ongoing Paris Fashion Week festivities, that’ll likely be in Spring/Summer 2026 at the latest.
