New Balance 574 history Class grey Sky Blue

The men's New Balance 574 Essentials is a collectible icon. With clean lines and a classic profile, this die cut EVA sneaker makes a standout, everyday statement that remains true to its '80s heritage. Modern comfort upgrades means this kick feels as great as it looks. Your go-to strategy for confident everyday style includes the men's 574 with its iconic look and supportive ENCAP midsole cushioning.

New Balance has returned to its much-loved 574 silhouette for three colorways inspired by the heritage of the model, with the pack dubbed the “History Class.” For the three designs, New Balance has particularly looked to the 1980s, referencing the silhouette’s emergence into the market in 1988 through the heritage colorways taken from the label’s archive.

The stand-out colorway pays tribute to New Balance’s iconic grey, which is complemented by hits of “Sky Blue” mesh across the forefoot and around the ankle. The other colorways in the “History Class” pack see the 574 dressed in a dark navy tone and a mixture of white and grey.

Take a look at the three colorways in the gallery above. All of the “History Class” sneakers are due to release via atmos on August 19, priced at ￥11,990 JPY (approximately $110 USD).

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New Balance are using their recently launched ‘History Class’ pack to highlight the pivotal predecessors that led to the 574’s creation in 1988. Consisting of six colourways that each reference an archival NB model from the 1980s, this pack pays tribute to the models and features that culminated in the 574. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the ancestry of the New Balance 574.

Best known for introducing ENCAP technology, and its otherworldly $130 pricepoint in 1984, the JP1300 earned its notorious ‘Mortgage the house’ marketing motto. Now, this 574 references the OG ‘JP’ colourway, right down to the double-layered N logo.

The 565 featured a polyurethane (PU) ‘horseshoe’ stability wedge inserted into an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) midsole, which was considered an important catalyst for the creation of the ENCAP insert that was used on the 574. The homage is paid here with the navy and grey suede and mesh colourway.

This 574 will experience fervent trainerspotting thanks to its white, navy and silver tribute colourway from the 700. And more importantly, NB have swapped out the 574’s usual materials for the same types used on its reference shoe!

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New Balance managed to get the 850’s outsole to wear ‘almost as well as a tractor tire’! Today, the 574 descendant remains among some of the most hard-wearing sneakers on the market, and this new edition recalls the 850’s distinct tan and maroon colourway.

The 770’s Fethalite horseshoe insert was the cornerstone of the model that promised security. As the original ad stated, ‘This shoe makes you feel comfortable with high technology’. The vibrant maroon and tan OG colourway of the 770 also made it memorable, and translates perfectly over to its 574 contemporary.

The 670’s most important design contribution was the debut of the SL-2 Last, which improved foot stability thanks to a wider forefoot, narrower arch, and deeper heel. The SL-2 Last was reprised in the 574 and many other NB classics. The next feature this 574 has inherited from the 670 is its clean grey and navy OG colourway.