The M2002 has been a frontrunner in New Balance’s offerings in the status quo. Salehe Bembury may have started the engine, but the successful “Protection Pack” put the pedal to the metal, and now New Balance has found themselves on a hot streak, on the royal road to a spot at the top. Riding off that momentum, the Boston shoemaker is introducing a more experimental, textural finish, in hopes more of their inline releases can make the inertia last.

The M2002 arrives with the titular “Blue Denim” serving as the base layer, visible through the overlays from the toe box, tongue, through to the collar. With a blue suede finish, the overlays take up real estate throughout the circumference of the shoe reaching apogee on the topmost eyelets. Black accents the shoe from the toe box upfront to the collar at the rear where the “2002R” imprint sits.

Despite the Sun Yellow, other branding elements inconspicuously take their spot through the “N-ERGY” imprint on the off white midsole, and on the “N” on the vamp. The laces doesn’t veer from the tonal palette, carrying the same shade as the above-mentioned overlays.

Not much is known about the pair considering this is a mere first look; the photo shared through @woganwodeyang. They’re expected to be released sometime in 2023.

In the mean time, have a look at the “Protection Pack” motif applied to the 1906R.

NB2002RTEXTURE