Decades since first launching in 1988, the 576 — one of New Balance's most iconic silhouettes — returns for its 35th anniversary. Since 2008 New Balance has rolled out the original Made in UK 576 for aficionados, paying particular attention to the details. Much like their revered 1300JP series, which has done similar for the 1300 series since 1995 — mostly for the Japanese market — the aim of this quinquennial release is to honour the 576's legacy through the pursuit of perfection.

Last seen in 2018, the 576 Anniversary Edition returns in 2023 to celebrate its 35 years since the first release. With the help of New Balance's Samuel Ross — Creative Design Manager for Made in UK — the latest edition proves to be the most accurate yet. When recounting the undertaking, Sam notes that over the years the 576 has taken on various forms, but with the 35th anniversary they wanted to "give the consumer the true experience of this shoe in its original form.” For the true New Balance anorak, this level of obsession is par-for-the-course — representative of a dedicated fanbase existing on the outskirts of the sneaker scene for some time. Anyone versed in the history of NB and the 576 itself will quickly note the subtle changes in construction and colours compared with earlier anniversary releases.

Originally part of the 57x series launched in '88, the 576 was designed for trail running with a roomier toebox and lugged outsole for off-road antics. This was backed-up with the ENCAP sole unit which sported an asymmetric motion control heel clip which provided better support over undulating terrains. In keeping with NB's corporate colour scheme pairs were available in either navy blue or charcoal grey. Although other colours are believed exist in small amounts — mainly black and burgundy — these two are the quintessential 576 variants.

As the little-brother 574 went on to become a beloved model throughout Asia thanks to a low-cost reboot in the ‘90s, the 576 was resurrected by the UK arm of New Balance and released in a rainbow of premium suedes for retailer JD Sports. Along with a steady supply of rarely documented Japanese-exclusives these releases would keep the 576 legend alive. Since the 2000s the model has sported a C-CAP sole unit, slimming the silhouette and allowing vintage versions to stand the test of time with a foam which doesn't breakdown as quickly. When the original ENCAP unit returned for the 576's 20th anniversary in 2008 — an unthinkable concept at the time — it was a revelation for hardcore NB fans.

Much like the 1300JP this combination is reserved for Anniversary releases only, never straying into mainline catalogues. The differences aren’t constrained to the sole either, indeed the entire shoe and all its panels vary when compared with a contemporary 576. With the 2023 release, Sam Pearce and the NB design team took things further than ever before, meticulous care was taken at a pattern and engineering level to replicate details such as the tongue construction, branding placement and even the stitch weight. This bring-back — based on an original Japanese catalogue spec — represents the most authentic version to date.

Having stocked the previous anniversary editions, we’re happy to once again welcome the 576 back for what is now its 35th birthday with the two iconic original colours. Both pairs are available in-store and online now with a retail price of $300.