UPDATE 4/20/26: EQL entries are now live for the Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 in both the “Finger Waves” and “Naughty Things” colorways. Retail is set at $200, and the raffle stays open until Thursday, April 23rd at 11:00 AM ET. ENTER HERE.

Original Story 4/13/26:
Joe Freshgoods and New Balance are back with a 12th collaborative release, this time built around the New Balance 1890. After last year’s 2010 “In My Bag” project, Joe now shifts toward a newer retro-inspired model and gives it a concept rooted in the music video era of ’90s rap that shaped his childhood.

The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 pack pulls directly from the visual language of the late 1990s and early 2000s, especially the bold color, distortion, and larger-than-life styling made famous on MTV. Hype Williams’ futuristic direction plays a major role here, with Joe using that era’s unforgettable energy as the foundation for both pairs. The result is a project that feels tied to music, fashion, and memory all at once.

The two colorways, “Finger Waves” and “Naughty Things,” have not yet been officially tied to specific songs or videos. What has been made clear is that both pairs pull inspiration from the bold visuals and unmistakable attitude of rap videos, with references to artists like Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott and Juvenile helping shape the overall direction of the project. Based on the images, one pair arrives in a fiery orange, yellow, and black mix, while the other leans into purple tones with glossy black overlays, giving each shoe its own distinct identity within the same nostalgic theme.

Special packaging helps push the concept even further. Both pairs arrive in steel diamond plate-inspired boxes with a circular cut-out lid, a detail that nods to the fisheye lens effect often tied to Hype Williams’ most iconic work. That connection also links this release to Joe’s earlier New Balance projects, including the “1998” Pack that referenced Belly.

The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 Pack EQL raffle opens April 20, 2026 in both colorways for $200 each, with entries open until April 23rd at 11:00 AM ET.

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