Who Owns New Balance?

New Balance was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley in Boston, Massachusetts, as the "New Balance Arch Support Company." Riley was inspired by observing a chicken's three-clawed foot and designed flexible arch supports that provided perfect balance, hence the company name. For its first several decades, New Balance focused exclusively on arch supports and orthopedic shoes, building a reputation for comfort and fit among workers who spent long hours on their feet.

The company's transition to athletic footwear began in the 1960s under the ownership of Paul Kidd, who developed the Trackster, one of the first running shoes available in multiple widths. This commitment to offering shoes in various widths became a defining characteristic of the New Balance brand and differentiated it from competitors who offered only standard sizing.

Jim Davis purchased New Balance on the day of the 1972 Boston Marathon for $100,000. Under Davis's leadership, the company grew from a small operation with six employees to a global athletic brand. The 1982 launch of the 990 running shoe, priced at $100 (a premium price at the time), established New Balance as a serious performance running brand. The 990 became iconic and spawned a series of models (991, 992, 993, and beyond) that remain popular today.

Unlike Nike and Adidas, which rely heavily on celebrity athlete endorsements, New Balance historically took a different approach, focusing on product quality and fit rather than flashy marketing. However, in recent years, New Balance has embraced athlete partnerships, signing deals with basketball player Kawhi Leonard, tennis player Coco Gauff, and other prominent athletes. The brand has also experienced a massive surge in popularity in the lifestyle and fashion market, with models like the 550, 2002R, and collaborations with designers like Aime Leon Dore and JJJJound driving demand among younger consumers.

New Balance is notably the only major athletic footwear company that still manufactures shoes in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company operates five factories in New England (Maine and Massachusetts) and one in Flimby, England, producing its "Made in USA" and "Made in UK" collections. While these domestically produced shoes represent a fraction of total output (most New Balance shoes are manufactured in Asia), the commitment to domestic manufacturing is central to the brand's identity.