Comme des Garçons is bringing the New Balance 1226 back into the picture with a new collaboration shown during Paris Fashion Week. The runner first appeared in 2011, but this version moves away from the original metallic finish and settles into a mix of brown, tan, and muted earth tones.

New Balance designed the 1226 as a mileage-focused performance shoe, pairing N-ergy cushioning with a thick, heavily tooled sole. That build does not feel out of place anymore. With models like the 1906R helping technical runners cross into everyday wear, the 1226 suddenly makes more sense as a retro.

Alterations are relatively minimal. Comme des Garçons retains the silhouette, downplays the branding, and allows the layered top to peek through with slight color variations. This isn’t so much a redesign as it is a small tweaking back to zero for a shoe most have likely forgotten existed.

The Comme des Garçons x New Balance 1226 is expected to release during Spring/Summer 2027. An exact launch date, retail price, and full store list have not been confirmed.

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