New Balance Used Clothing Sourcing Guide | RE-USE TOKYO
NEW BALANCE APPAREL USED CLOTHING SOURCING GUIDE
History of NEW BALANCE
From its founding in 1906 to the pinnacle of sneaker culture
New Balance was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley in Boston as an arch support (orthotics for flat feet) manufacturer. The company entered the running shoe market in the 1960s, and with the release of the 990 in 1982, it pioneered "sneakers over $100 a pair." It remains a rare brand that continues to produce shoes in its own factories in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Brand History
- 1906 Founded in Boston (arch support)
- 1960s Entered the running shoe market
- 1976 Released the 320 (first full-fledged running shoe)
- 1982 Released the 990 (first sneaker over $100)
- 1988 UK factory (Flimby) began operation
- 1980s〜1990s Iconic models like 996 and 997 released
- 2000s Accelerated penetration into the fashion segment
- 2008 Released the 993
- 2020s Revival of popularity with 550, 2002R, 1906R, etc.
Position in the Used Clothing Market
- Primarily a sneaker brand, but apparel demand is rising
- The NB boom has led to a surge in demand for apparel sets
- Collaborative apparel (KITH, ALD, etc.) trades at high prices
- 90s vintage apparel (Made in USA) fetches high prices in some cases
- Regular apparel typically ranges from ¥1,000 to ¥5,000, but good selection can yield high profits
- Lower risk of fakes compared to sneakers
- Nylon jackets, sweatshirts, and track pants are core sourcing items
Sneaker Knowledge (Reference)
Basic sneaker knowledge useful for apparel sourcing
990 Series (v1〜v6)
▼- ▸ NB's top-tier series. The flagship since the original in 1982
- ▸ Generations v1 to v6 exist, each with its own fans
- ▸ Made in USA. Gray color is the most popular
- ▸ Good condition older generations (v1-v3) sell for tens of thousands of yen
- 👉 990 series = highest price range for used NB. Made in USA confirmation is essential
992 / 993
▼- ▸ 992: Famous for being worn by Steve Jobs. Exploded in popularity after its 2020 reissue
- ▸ 993: Popular model from the 990 series. Highly rated for comfort
- ▸ Both Made in USA. Gray is the most popular
- ▸ Originals (deadstock from discontinued periods) are particularly expensive
- 👉 992/993 = Pre-reissue originals are extremely expensive. Reissued items also fetch high prices
996 / 997
▼- ▸ 996: Slim silhouette. Most widely popular. Made in USA = high price
- ▸ 997: Popular model following the 996. Highly popular in 90s streetwear as well
- ▸ Significant price difference between "M996" / "M997" (Made in USA) and "CM996" (Made in Asia)
- ▸ Collaboration models (KITH, JCrew, etc.) are even more expensive
- 👉 M-series model numbers are often for higher lines, but production country needs individual confirmation
1300 / 1400 / 1500 / 1700
▼- ▸ 1300: Masterpiece known as "the Rolls-Royce of sneakers." Made in USA
- ▸ 1400: Famous for J.Crew collaboration. Made in USA
- ▸ 1500/1700: Often Made in UK (Flimby factory)
- ▸ All are higher-tier lines with stable demand in used clothing market
- 👉 4-digit models = generally higher-tier lines. Check production country for pricing
550 / 2002R / 1906R
▼- ▸ 550: Retro basketball style. Exploded in popularity with Aimé Leon Dore collaboration
- ▸ 2002R: A modern update of the 2002 from the 2010s
- ▸ 1906R: Successor to 1906D. Retro running style
- ▸ All are predominantly Made in Asia. Only limited colors fetch high prices
- 👉 Trend models = only limited colors/collaborations are high-priced. Regular colors are mid-range
Model × Production Country Comparison Table
Prices can vary significantly depending on the country of production
| Model | Made in USA Market Price | Made in UK Market Price | Made in Asia Market Price | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 Series | ¥15,000〜50,000+ | − | − | ★★★★★ |
| 992 / 993 | ¥20,000〜60,000+ | − | − | ★★★★★ |
| 996 | ¥10,000〜30,000 | − | ¥3,000〜8,000 | ★★★★ |
| 997 | ¥10,000〜25,000 | − | ¥3,000〜8,000 | ★★★★ |
| 1300 / 1400 | ¥10,000〜35,000 | − | − | ★★★★ |
| 1500 / 1700 | − | ¥8,000〜30,000 | − | ★★★ |
| 550 | − | − | ¥5,000〜15,000 | ★★★★ |
| 2002R / 1906R | − | − | ¥5,000〜15,000 | ★★★ |
| 574 | − | − | ¥2,000〜5,000 | ★★ |
Apparel (Clothing) Information
Not just sneakers. Key points for sourcing apparel
New Balance Apparel Basics
▼- ▸ Used apparel market price is lower compared to sneakers (mostly ¥1,000-¥5,000)
- ▸ However, value is rising due to recent NB boom + demand for matching sets
- ▸ 90s vintage apparel (Made in USA) fetches high prices in some cases
- ▸ Collaborative apparel (KITH, ALD, JJJJound, etc.) is in the high-price range
Nylon Jackets / Windbreakers
▼- ▸ 90s-00s nylon jackets are popular for their vintage appeal
- ▸ Larger "NB" logos and color-block designs tend to be higher-priced
- ▸ Current models are widely distributed and have lower market prices
Sweatshirts / Hoodies
▼- ▸ NB logo sweatshirts sell well year-round for everyday wear
- ▸ Made in USA (90s) embroidered logos are rare and expensive
- ▸ Collaborative sweatshirts (KITH x NB, etc.) can exceed ¥10,000
- ▸ Current plain sweatshirts offer low profit margins
Track Pants / Shorts
▼- ▸ NB track pants are gaining popularity due to demand for matching sets
- ▸ NB logo stripe on the side = high turnover rate ◎
- ▸ Shorts (half pants) see peak demand in summer
- ▸ Low unit price but good profit potential from high turnover
Caps / Beanies
▼- ▸ NB logo caps are classic and have a good year-round turnover rate ◎
- ▸ Unit price is low, but accessories can be profitable even with shipping costs
- ▸ Collaborative caps (ALD, etc.) can exceed ¥5,000
Collaborative Apparel (KITH / ALD / JJJJound, etc.)
▼- ▸ Kith × New Balance: Sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps. Stable high prices
- ▸ Aimé Leon Dore (ALD) × New Balance: Highly premium. Many items sell out instantly
- ▸ JJJJound × New Balance: Minimalist design. Apparel is high-priced, similar to sneakers
- ▸ Stone Island × New Balance: Technical materials + premium. High-price range
- ▸ Can be identified by collaboration tags or special order markings
- 👉 Collaborative apparel tends to trade at higher prices than regular NB apparel. Tag confirmation is essential
Apparel Identification Tips
Assess value based on tags and design
❶ Tag Age Determination
▼- ▸ Old logo (bold NB) + Made in USA → 90s or earlier. Vintage high price
- ▸ Current logo + Made in China/Vietnam → 2000s or later. Regular market price
- ▸ Collaborative items identified by double-name tags or special order markings
- ▸ Product number tags may indicate model name and production year
❷ Logo Size and Placement
▼- ▸ Large NB logo / Embroidered logo → Tend to be higher-priced (especially 90s vintage)
- ▸ Small printed logo → Current entry-level. Lower market price
- ▸ Back print / Center logo → Popular for vintage appeal. Tend to be higher-priced
- ▸ Collaborations will also feature the partner's logo, so don't miss it
❸ Value Assessment by Material and Quality
▼- ▸ Heavyweight cotton fleece-lined → High-quality sweatshirt. Tend to be higher-priced
- ▸ 100% Polyester → Sports-oriented. Lower market price
- ▸ Nylon (mesh lining) → 90s-00s jackets. Mid to high-priced depending on condition
- ▸ Models with high-performance materials like GORE-TEX are often highly valued
❹ Identifying Collaborative Items
▼- ▸ KITH × NB: KITH logo also present. Sweatshirts and T-shirts are expensive
- ▸ Aimé Leon Dore (ALD) × NB: ALD logo, unique color scheme
- ▸ JJJJound × NB: Minimalist design. Check the tag.
- ▸ Can sometimes fetch several times the price of regular NB items, so don't miss out.
- 👉 For collaborations, always check for the double-name tag. Missing it means a big loss.
⚠️ Notes on Sourcing (Apparel)
Key points for apparel sourcing
Regular items have low profit margins
▼- ▸ Regular NB apparel has a low retail price → used clothing market price is around ¥1,000-3,000
- ▸ Plain poly T-shirts, jogger pants, etc., have low profit margins.
- ▸ Target: Collaboration items / 90s vintage / designs with prominent logos
- 👉 NB regular apparel = low profit. Focus on collaborations, vintage, and logo items.
Add value with matching sets
▼- ▸ Track jacket + pants set = 1.5-2 times the price of individual items
- ▸ Simply offering matching colors and series adds value.
- ▸ NB has a trend for wearing matching sets, so demand is high.
- 👉 Matching sets = higher profit than individual items. Actively pursue if you can get both top and bottom.
Size considerations
▼- ▸ NB apparel is based on US sizing (larger than Japanese sizes).
- ▸ Demand for S-M is high in the Japanese market.
- ▸ Demand for oversized wear also exists, so M-L also sells.
- ▸ Actual measurements + accurate listing are important.
- 👉 Actual measurements are essential. List actual measurements in addition to tag size to improve sales.
Be aware of seasonality
▼- ▸ Nylon jackets / windbreakers → Peak in spring and autumn
- ▸ Sweatshirts / hoodies → Peak in autumn and winter
- ▸ Shorts / T-shirts → Only in summer
- ▸ Track pants → Year-round, but demand increases in autumn/winter due to matching sets.
- 👉 Source before the season → list during peak season = maximize profit.
RE-USE TOKYO Services
Whether you want to buy used New Balance clothing or are looking to source
Please feel free to use our services.
For used clothing stores and businesses
Wholesale / Small lot orders available
Consult about sourcing →info@re-usetokyo.com