NEW BALANCE x CONCEPTS TRIBUTE (2013-PRESENT)

If you’ve collected pretty much any brand of lifestyle footwear then I’m going to assume that you’re familiar with the company Concepts that is based in Boston. Prior to collecting NB; I was a Nike SB-head and still remember the day the red lobster SB lows dropped. At that time I was not savvy by any means when it came to online releases, and being that I live on the West Coast I knew that I’d be forced to pay resell for red lobsters and any future in-store projects that would drop. Fast forward several years to when my SB collection was depleted due to my auto industry hobby, and my closet was now beginning to fill up with only NB. Now I’m older and have learned a thing or 2 since my younger days when it came to online releases; just in time too…2013 marked the year where I’d have my first successful checkout (bot-free) with Concepts, and it was with their timeless classic; the ‘Tannery 998’.

My original purchase of the Tannery would pave the way so do speak between my connection with Concepts and their NB projects. Release after release I would come out on the positive side of my computer screen with successful checkouts; it wasn’t until the Lux Goods 997 where I’d experience difficulty. This was the first time I had witnessed high traffic on their site, yet I was still able to checkout and receive confirmation. Unfortunately there was a mishap and my order was cancelled, so I brought this to the attention of the staff and my issue was IMMEDIATELY resolved and then some! Since then, every purchase has gone very smooth!

Now I know what you’re thinking, “Where’s the Seal 999, or Mallard Duck 998 etc.?”. Some shoes I just can’t jive with. When NB forces companies to use the NB1 platform for collabs it’s an instant turn off and that’s not Concepts or other stores’ fault. I think they did a great job on their Mallard Duck and Boston Marathon, but I don’t like feeling like I can make them on NB1. I buy what I like and not what’s in the hype. This is my Concepts collection that has been purchased from Concepts and not by resell!

The idea for this shoot was sparked up after the recent release of the ‘Esruc’ 997S. I’ve patiently waited over a year for this colorway to drop after Concept’s Graphic Designer; @deonpoint shared a 998 sample in this colorway. This pair is everything Concepts made it up to be!

It’s not only the products that keep me coming back to Concepts; it’s the customer service, thought and execution behind each project, and their social media presence. They also reciprocate the support given to them and that’s what makes them a great company.

Pairs:
990 ‘Tyrian’ - 990CPT2
991.5 ‘Lake Havasu’ - 9915CNP
997 ‘City Rivalry-NYC’ - 997NSY
997 ‘Luxury Goods’ - 997TNY
997 ‘Rosé’ - 997CPT
997S Fusion ‘Esruc’ - 997SCN
998 ‘C-Note’ - 998TN2
998 ‘City Rivalry-Boston’ - 998BMG
998 ‘Grand Tourer’ - 998CFX
998 ‘Tannery’ - 998TNY
999 ‘Hyannis’ - 999CP2
999 ‘Kennedy Retro’ - 999CP1

I’d like to give a special shoutout to my photographer friend Jessica Miller for taking the time to shoot these shots. I met Jessica through my days spent at the racetrack as she has been one of the leading photographers at Sonoma Raceway. Her skills go far beyond motorsports as you can see! Thank you Jessica