Diary · Fashion · 20 October 2026 · Geoffrey Guyonnet
NIOBIUM CONCEPT 1 LIGHT BROWN / TRIPLE BLACK
By TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance
TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance adds two colours to the Niobium Concept 1: LIGHT BROWN and TRIPLE BLACK. They arrive first at the OPEN HOUSE at DOVER STREET MARKET GINZA from 24 October, then more widely from 30 October.
TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance, or TDS, is a lifestyle line within New Balance, started in 2018 by a design team drawn from both the United States and Japan. The Niobium Concept 1 first appeared in 2020. It came back in June this year for the first time since that original release, and these two colourways are the second wave of that return.
The shoe is a conceptual piece of footwear rather than a standard trainer. It is built on the sole unit of New Balance's MT801 trail running shoe, with an upper in two interchangeable parts. By swapping the booties, which use a breathable, waterproof eVent membrane, and the mule-style lining, the same shoe becomes a waterproof boot, an outdoor mule or an indoor slipper.
Sales begin at DOVER STREET MARKET GINZA's OPEN HOUSE from 24 October. From Friday 30 October, LIGHT BROWN and TRIPLE BLACK are also sold at selected New Balance stores, on the New Balance online store and at selected retailers. The source does not give a price.
