Boston-based New Balance today announced the premiere of its first global Partnership Program. This program will celebrate the creativity and savvy design expertise of New Balance’s top retail partners in collaboration with designers and developers from the brand’s global product creation centers in the US, Japan and England.

The Program will provide top global retailers with a forum to work with regional New Balance factories to produce collections that are regionally designed but available to consumers worldwide.

“The New Balance Partnership Program is a unique opportunity to create innovative premium product in conjunction with some of the best global sneaker retailers,” stated Luis Navarro, product manager for New Balance Lifestyle. “We decided to take a different approach and have our Partnership Program partners fully participate in the product creation process. This enables us to showcase the style and creativity of each partner coupled with the high craftsmanship of New Balance to deliver a meaningful story,” stated Navarro.

The program kicks off with a collection by the NYC-based boutique, Alife Rrivington Club (A.R.C.) and was designed and developed in tandem with New Balance’s USA team.

Built on the classic New Balance M1300 silhouette, the A.R.C. collection celebrates a heritage style that was first introduced in 1985 as a premium technical running shoe. The 1300 features simple patterns, a long tip, one piece saddle and a PU Encap outsole for comfort.

Designed to evoke the archetypical 1980s jogger, the A.R.C. collection is available in three material and color combinations-teal/grey, all-over teal and white with small pops of teal. “The materials selected follow our core classic Made-in-USA heritage. Pig suede on the tip, saddle, and foxing plus jacquard knit meshes are the staples used on many of our domestically-made shoes” stated Steve Cusick, product developer for New Balance.

Cusick adds, “The inspiration came from both 1980’s joggers and modern New Balance classics. With quality and durability a high priority, we pushed to maintain the same materials on all three styles.” All color pantones of teal and grey were chosen by A.R.C. and everything visible on the shoe- suede, labels, laces, thread, inserts, meshes, soling- was a true collaboration of talent between the New Balance developers and A.R.C.