The New Balance 992 is back for the first time since 2006. Already available in a variety of great colorways, the fan-favorite silhouette is also taking on plenty of projects from outside collaborators. This week, Japan’s WTAPS unveiled their take, releasing soon.

New Balance’s 992 is going to be everywhere in 2020, and somehow we still want more. Originally released in 2006, the 992 was specifically built to celebrate the Boston brand’s 100th anniversary, building upon the famous legacy of the fan-favorite 99X franchise. The shoe was a massive success, and now, it is back for its first retro release since its debut 14 years ago. And, to celebrate accordingly, New Balance has tapped all kinds of collaborators to give their take on the retro runner. This week, Japan’s WTAPS unveiled their signature take, which dressed the shoe in their distinct “Olive Drab” color scheme, while still maintaining the integrity and look of a New Balance original. Beginning with a faded olive mesh base layer, the 992 is layered with grey suede and metallic silver overlays before transitioning fully to the WTAPS olive tone for the 992’s sweeping mudguard and heel counter. Talking about this change in color, WTAPS designer Toru Nishiyama thought that “…if you finished with olive drab from the upper to the sole, the impression of WTAPS would be too much, so while blending the olive drab in a gray tone that seems to be New Balance, I finished the whole with gradation…It was designed so as not to contaminate the elegant image of New Balance (laugh).”

WTAPS X NEW BALANCE 992 “OLIVE DRAB” RELEASE INFORMATION 

The special release from Japan’s WTaps and New Balance, featuring the classic 992 silhouette, has been announced for release later this week, on May 1st, 2020. The special-edition collaboration is currently slated to drop from WTaps and New Balance’s website, as well as DSM Ginza and other select stockists, though we are hoping for a global drop in the near future. Check out WTaps teaser images for a better look, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more New Balance release news.