The true founding father of the “Dad sneaker,” New Balance’s rise to the forefront of sneaker culture has always stayed true to functionality and comfort. This ethos has been present since the founding of the brand in 1906, as it began with the name “New Balance Arch Support Company,” developing three-point sole support modeled after the feet of founder William J. Reilly’s chickens. After initially finding a niche athlete market for arch supports, it was almost a century later that New Balance began to garner the universal popularity it holds today. Since then, sneakers like the 574 and 990 series have created canvases for brands like Levi’s and JoeFreshGoods, pushing the brand into increasingly out-of-the-box work in recent years.
