Back in September we told you that New Balance was collaborating with snowboard company 686 to create a winter collection including boots, footwear, outerwear, and accessories.  Last night, New Balance and 686 celebrated the onset of cool weather with the East Coast launch party for this collaboration: the 686 Times New Balance Collection, which was held at renowned sneaker store, Concepts, in Cambridge MA.  More than 100 guests showed up for the celebration, including some key players from 686 and New Balance.

more pics and info on the collab after the jump

ABOUT THE COLLECTION:

At the forefront of the 686 X New Balance collection is the 580 Times New Balance Snowboard Boot. The boot combines proprietary New Balance patented technologies including Rollbar® stability and Abzorb® cushioning along with 686 BOA® FOCUS system and Recco® avalanche technology. The result is a fully functional, technically advanced snowboard boot with a sneaker-like fit.

To compliment the 686 X New Balance collection, we have customized one of our most celebrated silhouettes- the 580 – with Times collection colors and materials for off-mountain wear.

From its origins in the mid 90’s as a trail running sneaker, to the special modern day partnerships between iconic Japanese brands, the 580 has become a global object of obsession. The 580 Times New Balance Sneaker features timeless design qualities, premium materials and technological footwear advances in footwear.

While the 580 has a storied past, the special 686 models boast contemporary materials for clean styling and reliable comfort and fit. It is this combination of classic heritage and modern function that rests at the core of the 686/New Balance partnership.

The 686 X New Balance collection will also include: 575 Times Insulated Jacket featuring Infidry® dry technology, DWR durable water repellency and Recco® avalanche rescue system technology; 580 Times 3-Ply Jacket with fully taped 3-ply seams, water resistant technology and Recco® avalanche rescue system technology; 580 Times New Era Hat; Gradient Times Zip Hoody, Gradient Times T-shirt and Sole Times T-shirt.

The 580 Times Snowboard boot will be retailing for $300 and the 580s are retailing for $100.

Join Concepts for their “Better Late Than Never” grand opening party. Roll over to the shop at 37 Brattle, where you’ll be provided with directions to a secret location, just minutes from the shop, tucked away in historic Harvard University.

“What’d you do last night?” a girl may ask you someday.

“I went to Harvard University,” you’ll reply. It sounds spiffy, no? Might as well tell her you’re a Kennedy while you’re at it.

You might also meet notorious Vapors contributor Frank The Butcher.

Nope, no intro. None needed. —PJC

Will this shoe collection of yours ever be complete?
Collecting shoes means different things to different people. Some get shoes, regardless of how rare they are, and wear them out to impress the sneakerheads. To the collector that considers the shoe a piece of art, that’s sacrilegious. That’s like cutting the canvas on a Picasso painting and sewing it on the back of a denim jacket as a patch.

Really? You take shoe-wearing that personally?
Since I consider the shoes as art, unless you’re at my house you’re not going to see them. For me, it’s definitely personal. I’m usually looking for shoes that no one else would be looking for because of my personal experience with that shoe in the past. For instance, take the Nike Air Flight Zoom 95. This is a shoe that I wore senior year of high school for varsity basketball—ended up going to the California State Championship with them. I had been looking for the shoe for years, having them escape me a few times on eBay. I finally found them in 2005—only to have them retro-ed in 2007. Same thing with the Command Force Hi, aka the Nike Pump, not the Nike Air Pressure.

Because you sought out the rare originals, how do you feel when a company reissues?
This is a common theme in my life. All the records I spent years scouring the earth for are now worthless because of tekmology. In the old days, if you wanted to play a song, you needed the record. Period. And I take pride in playing some bugged-out shit. Nowadays, the kids hear us vets play a song and they go download it and play it because they think that’s what they’re supposed to do, not knowing anything about the history of the song, artist, or why I was even playing it. Same thing goes for kicks. All the sweat and tears to find OG Nike Air Tech Challenges (aka Andre Agassis) is pointless because Nike reissued them and now kids are wearing them at the park. Fuck.

What’s the most you’ve paid?
I have a pair of OG deadstock Nike Dunks from 1985, which to me is the greatest shoe ever. I paid a pretty penny for those. Also, since I wasn’t blessed with the friendship of the Undefeated crew, I had to buy my Dunk Hi Undefeated in ballistic fabric online for just under a million dollars. Yo, Eddie Cruz, need your lawn mowed? Holla!

What’s your favorite shop?
Doesn’t matter where you go anymore, ’cause they’re all going to have the same shoes on the shelves. You really need to ask what’s in the back after you make nice with the manager, ’cause the vault is where you need to be. Honorable mentions go to Bodega and Concepts in Boston, Blends in SD, Centre in Dallas, and KNYEW in Vegas.

Being that the sneaker culture is so massive and appropriated right now, do you ever feel like just selling the collection off and buying a yacht?
Lately, I have been considering selling the collection—size 10, everyone. Now that I’m older and my tastes and interests have changed, I find the shoes to be more of a nuisance than a pleasure. In my apartment, I have a closet full of shoes, my second bathroom counter is stacked with boxes, my second bathroom tub has shelving in it holding shoes, my storage in my apartment building has shoes, and a storage facility I rent houses shoe boxes and records. This is the nuisance. I have even been wearing black Chucks to try and wean myself off of the need to always have a fly pair of shoes on. Now I want gold watches, real estate, and, to go with my Rockport deck shoes, a sailboat.

Who’s the ultimate sneakerhead?
Hands down, Bobbito Garcia has to be the foremost expert in the sneaker game, amongst other games. Shouts to Stretch, too.

Collectors like yourself seem to favor the golden oldies. This say something about modern shoe design?
Historically, people always turn to the past to fix the present. Fix the ugly fucking shoes they’re making now.

Any brands impressing you right now?
Reebok is definitely making strides to come back in a major way. Since I grew up wearing Reeboks, it’s nice to see the shoes they’re releasing are older models in new flavors, and the flavors are so delish!

WHUT?! Yep, adidas went big. (Although they still don’t capitalize their name.) See if you can identify all the collaborators from a to h… I’ll start you out with H–Huf.

Of course they’re probably available at your local sneak boutique, but definitely available from the peeps at Proper.

www.CNCPTS.com

37 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.868.2001