Grey Area: New Balance Celebrates Its Signature Shade

New Balance has never done things the conventional way. While others went bright, they stayed Grey. This May, the brand doubles down on its most iconic colour with the return of Grey Days—a month-long celebration of the shade that’s become synonymous with NB’s style-led, street-smart heritage.

Originally introduced in the 1980s as a practical solution for urban running—designed to blend into concrete backdrops and hide the wear of city life—grey quickly became a defining element of New Balance’s visual identity. It wasn’t just about performance. Grey became cultural. And it stuck.

Grey Days 2025 brings that legacy forward with a full range of releases across lifestyle, performance and skatewear. Standouts include the reissue of the 1300JP, a cult favourite that only sees daylight once every five years. Built for die-hard sneakerheads and collectors alike, it’s priced at £270 and lands on May 29.

Also in the mix: the ABZORB 2010 and the 471 (May 22), both nodding to NB’s running roots with early-2000s and ‘70s influences, priced at £150 and £90 respectively. Meanwhile, May 14 brings the 1906 Loafer (£120)—a sneaker-meets-dress shoe hybrid that’s already causing ripples—and on May 26, skateboarding gets its turn with the Numeric 933, a collab with legend Andrew Reynolds.

But Grey Days isn’t just about footwear. The apparel drop—eleven styles in signature tones—offers a clean, tonal upgrade to your wardrobe, proving that minimalism doesn’t mean boring. From fleece to fitted technical cuts, it’s gear that works just as well off-duty as it does in motion.

For New Balance, grey is more than a colour—it’s a mindset. One that balances bold design with understated cool. One that doesn’t chase trends, but quietly defines them.

Available now via the Grey Shop on NewBalance.com and select stores.