New Balance has had a fruitful 2022 with multiple hit releases. To round off a great year, Teddy Santis and his New Balance crew finally dropped the highly-anticipated New Balance 990v6.

The refreshed New Balance 990v6 has a streamlined silhouette and boasts of an all-new midsole featuring the brand’s famed Fuel Cell cushioning, originally reserved for NB’s long distance running models. In November, the first 990v6 was released in the iconic “New Balance Grey” colorway; meanwhile, numerous new colorways have also been spotted on sneaker sites and social media.

Over the weekend, two new concept colorways of the 990v6 have made its way into the sneakersphere and ignited excitement amongst NB fans. Conceptualized by sneaker photographer Derek Feole, the all-time-favorite New Balance model has been injected with surprising pops of colors.

The first “Sand” pair features a tan-colored mesh upper with “Chlorophyll” green paneling details; the second “Lavender” model is an homage to Feole’s grandparent, whose love for the colors lavender and navy is on full glorious display all over the shoe’s mesh-and-suede body. Ribbed “N” logos appear in shades of green and purple on the respective pairs.

Although just an early concept, sneaker account @le.syndrome has singled out one of the colorways as “a model and color that will be released in collaboration with a famous brand in the first half of next year”.

Hmm… we can’t help but wonder: Could these NB 990v6 be real? Has Teddy Santis seen Feole’s concepts? Is New Balance already secretly cooking up something with Feole? Only time will tell.

In other New Balance-related news, check out the latest AURALEE x New Balance collab.