New Balance designs and produces footwear and apparel intended to help people move better. Founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company and headquartered in Boston, the company operates as a privately held enterprise with roughly 8,000 associates worldwide. It maintains a global presence whilst retaining some manufacturing capacity in the United States and the United Kingdom - a competitive distinction in an industry where most peers have moved production elsewhere.
The company's product range spans performance and lifestyle footwear used by professional athletes and consumers, alongside apparel designed for both athletic and everyday wear. New Balance describes itself as obsessed with quality and committed to hands-on craftsmanship, positioning this approach as distinctly countercultural within the sector. Its private ownership structure means strategic decisions reflect the company's own priorities rather than public market pressures.
Valued at $6.5 billion, New Balance frames its broader mission around empowering people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities worldwide. The company's stated belief that conventions warrant challenge underpins both product development and its manufacturing philosophy.
