Since 2016, New Balance has teamed with Pensole Lewis in Detroit to create development and employment opportunities for hundreds of aspiring designers in our industry. Over the summer, students in our 2024 certificate program were challenged to create industry-defining products for the next generation of female athletes. To date, our certificate program has resulted in 50 design interns, 21 of whom went on to become full-time associates across our footwear and apparel teams. Congratulations to the PLC students and our Design group for another successful program! 

Our Responsible Leadership team recently gathered in Asia to meet with New Balance Japan colleagues, visit factories and suppliers, and connect with agencies advancing sustainable social and environmental solutions. They also took time to reflect and celebrate 2024 accomplishments and plan for the coming year. We have several Responsible Leadership targets to meet as outlined in our 2023 Sustainability & Impact Report 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGgv5UBH The trip gave the team time to celebrate work anniversaries and birthdays, share stories and many laughs, and ultimately strengthen their bonds by making every moment together count. There is no shortage of work, but everyone brings their “A” game every day. This is One NB! 

The magic from the sidelines #nycmarathon

New Balance associates from our North American Black Soles Associate Resource Group recently attended the 2024 National Black Footwear Forum. This annual event brings together Black and Brown professionals, students, executives, allies and supporters to foster community and drive the footwear industry towards greater inclusivity and representation reflective of its diverse consumer base. Jasmin Rae Francis, Chair of Black Soles, represented New Balance on the panel, “The Business is Personal: Cultivating Beauty in the Face of Challenges — A Focus on PR & Communications in the Black Footwear Community.” Her insights into navigating the intersections of identity, community and communication challenges were both powerful and inspiring.

🐐 Season.

We Got Now. Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. 2024.

New Balance is proud to celebrate a significant milestone in our global retail expansion journey. Since August, we have successfully opened more than 50 new stores across our global markets. These stores are the culmination of months of hard work between collaborative teams to develop a new look for our brand. With each grand opening, we’re not just unveiling a new physical space – we're creating opportunities to deepen our connection with local communities and consumers. The fresh retail concepts were designed to put people, not products, at the center of the consumer experience. With a focus on visual storytelling to accompany select products, we highlight the makers and origins behind our products to further illuminate New Balance at the intersection of sport and culture. In celebrating our achievement, we recognize that this momentum is just the beginning. With plans for even more store openings in the coming months, we are excited to continue on this path of growth and innovation. Check out some photos from our new stores in Edinburgh, Copenhagen and Osaka! To our new retail stores and associates, welcome to the New Balance family!

Guided by our purpose and values, New Balance associates are constantly mobilizing to give back in unique ways and make an impact in their communities, even outside of work. When New Balance associate Leif Hauge, Jr wanted to connect his community to his passion for skateboarding, he didn't find much local programming. Rather than seeing disappointment, he saw opportunity. No skate club simply means you get to build exactly the one you wish you had as a kid – from the ground up.   To bring the club to life quickly, Leif enlisted help from the community. The club found its home, and co-instructor Manny Sanchez, at a longtime New Balance Foundation grantee Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. Two local skate shops, Coureur Goods and Orchard Skateshop, donated boards for the participants. And, of course, everyone left with brand new pair of New Balance Numeric sneakers.     For the last session of the summer, Leif recruited his friend Matt Maydoney to take some photos. Matt works with some of the top brands and athletes in the sport, and his photos have appeared in acclaimed skate publications.   To see the way the community came together – voluntarily – to bring this program to life is so inspiring. The club was such a hit, Leif plans to continue running sessions throughout the academic year and again next summer.

When designing our packaging, we work to reduce the environmental impact while not losing sight of its most important function — protecting the product. In our efforts to reduce paper usage and waste in packaging components, we implemented technology at our Nashville Distribution Center in September 2023 that cuts corrugated cardboard into custom sizes to reduce the overall size of packaging.   Additionally, we are exploring printing and varnishing alternatives to further reduce the impact of our hang tags by trialing pigments made from algae. Learn more about how our commitment to responsible design extends beyond our products in our 2023 Sustainability & Impact Report 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGgv5UBH

Welcome to the New Balance family, Parker Valby.