Salehe Bembury first teased his upcoming collaboration with New Balance weeks ago, and we’ve been paying close attention ever since. This week, we finally have a better look, thanks to some on-foot shots courtesy of the legend himself, John Mayer.

Salehe Bembury should be a well-known name amongst sneakerheads by this point. An alumnus of team Yeezy and the footwear designer behind the game-changing Versace Chain Reaction, Salehe has gone above and beyond proving himself to be one of the most innovative and interesting designers currently in the game. So, when he announced he would be working on a special project with New Balance, our ears perked up. Featuring the New Balance 2002, this project flips the old-school runner with a bright and tactile new construction and color scheme, perfect for the sport-style movement taking over footwear at the moment. The New Balance 2002 bares a similar resemblance to the 992, a current fan-favorite from the Boston brand, in its use of mesh layers and suede overlays, though the exposed N-ergy midsole sets them drastically apart. For his take, Bembury appears to be using the Grand Canyon as inspiration, covering the shoe in a variety of textures dyed in a range of yellow, orange, and brick red tones. This inspiration is reflected on the shoebox, which features images of the canyon from its base as well as the namesake phrase “Peace be the Journey”.

SALEHE BEMBURY X NEW BALANCE 2002 “PEACE BE THE JOURNEY” RELEASE INFORMATION

The debut project from veteran footwear designer Salehe Bembury and New Balance has not yet been announced for release, though they are expected to launch sometime in Fall/Winter of this year. While we know very little about this upcoming project, we expect this release to come with a hefty price tag, given the nature of the shoe itself as well as the detailed box that comes with it. Check out John Mayer’s early images below for a better look, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more New Balance release news.

Salehe Bembury x New Balance 2002R
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Price: $150

UPDATE 9/22: Salehe Bembury’s New Balance “Peace be the Journey” collaboration officially releases October 23rd. Head over to our release page for all the online links & raffles.