New Balance Debuts Made-in-USA Apparel to Match Its Classic Dad Sneakers

The ultimate dad fit awaits.

White T-shirt hanging on a wooden hanger with New Balance 990 sneaker designs and years printed on the back.

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By Brad Lanphear

Published January 11, 2026

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It’s fascinating to me how New Balance’s Made-in-USA sneakers garner hype on par with Jordans and Balenciaga.

I’m not saying the adoration isn’t deserved — they are some of my favorite sneakers out there, and the quality is unrivaled by any major brand — but my dad really did live in New Balance sneakers, and I grew up wearing them exclusively as running shoes.

Dark teal crewneck sweatshirt with a large front pocket in a darker shade, hanging on a wooden hanger. — The New Balance Made-in-USA apparel collection is exclusive to Beams Japan.

For the most ardent fans, New Balance also makes a Made-in-USA apparel collection of sweatshirts, tees and sweatpants. The reviews are somewhat mixed, however, and the truth is that there are much better alternatives being made stateside.

The designs are as simple as they come, made with solid core colors like gray, black and cream. And the only distinguishing feature is a tiny red “NB” logo sewn onto each item.

Fortunately, Japanese apparel brand Beams took the initiative of remedying New Balance’s mundane Made-in-USA apparel collection with a fresh capsule inspired by two of the American sneaker brand’s most beloved designs.

Person wearing a beige and gray hoodie with dark sweatpants and black sneakers sitting on a bench holding a round object. — The Beam’s Made-in-USA apparel collection is inspired by the original gray 990 and the cult-favorite blue 1300.

The four-piece collection, sold exclusively through Beam’s Japanese web store and boutiques, utilizes the distinctive gray of the original 990, which debuted in 1982, and a steely blue that became a cult classic with the success of the 1300 after it was introduced to the Japanese market in 1985.

Collect four

Beam’s New Balance apparel collection consists of a full-zip hoodie, a crewneck sweatshirt with a kangaroo pocket, elastic-cuffed sweatpants and a t-shirt that any hardcore New Balance fan, like myself, should find irresistible.

Beige and dark gray zip-up hoodie with front pockets hanging on a wooden hanger against a beige wall. — The hoodie is tonal gray to match the original 1982 990.

The hoodie features tonal gray color blocking to match the brand’s signature “Our performance speaks for itself” minimalist aesthetic, which debuted with the 990 in 1982. The hood, kangaroo pocket, elastic cuffs and waistband are all faded charcoal.

The body and sleeves are broken up by a lighter gray on the left-hand side and a medium gray on the right-hand side, with a stitch running down the back to connect the two.

The other sweatshirt is a crewneck inspired by the highly coveted Japanese market 1300. It displays the same dark gray as the hoodie for the kangaroo pocket, cuffs, waistband and collar, while the body and sleeves are the signature steely blue.

White T-shirt hanging on a wooden hanger with black illustrations of New Balance 990 sneakers and years printed on the back. — The back of the Beams t-shirt features a chart with each version of the 990.

Fun Fact: That particular color made the 1300 so popular in Japan because it resembles indigo blue, which was considered lucky during the shogunate period and remains revered in Japanese culture.

As far as I’m concerned, the highlight of the collection is the white t-shirt. The front is blank, with a small black New Balance logo printed on the right sleeve. However, the back features a vertical chart detailing the history of the 990, broken down by each version.

Shiba Inu dog lying on folded dark denim jeans next to a person wearing gray pants and black New Balance sneakers. — The Beams sweatpants are baggy and have elastic cuffs.

Rounding out the collection is a pair of retro sweatpants, the type my dad wore with his 574s in the 1990s to run or mow the lawn. They are the same dark gray used on both sweatshirts, and have a baggy fit with elastic bands on the leg openings.

Availability and price

The Beams x New Balance Made-in-USA apparel collection is available now exclusively in Japan at Beams stores and on the retailer’s Japanese website, which is often inaccessible to American customers.

Even if you use a VPN to access the Beams web store, the company does not ship to the US. Which means, for the time being, you can only purchase the collection in Japan.

However, it should pop up on resale markets soon enough, and there is a chance that it will expand to Beams America.

Two people wearing matching oversized blue and gray sweatshirts with front pockets, paired with gray pants, one with a red patterned scarf and the other with a red and black plaid scarf and beige knit beanie.

Beams x New Balance Made in USA Apparel Collection

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About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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