New Balance Made in USA and Made in UK: A Complete Guide

Hi, Tom here from Footshop. New Balance built its main collection on decades of reputation and reliability, and it’s on that same foundation that two special lines grew within the New Balance collection: Made in USA and Made in UK. Both are produced directly in the brand’s own domestic factories, and each has its own character and price point. Let’s take a closer look at both.

Made in USA: manufacturing with a 70% domestic value requirement

New Balance Made in USA is produced across five factories in Massachusetts and Maine. To carry the official Made in USA label, a shoe must contain at least 70% domestic value under the brand’s own standards, and the line makes up only a limited share of New Balance’s total US sales. Since 2022, the collection has been led creatively by Teddy Santis, founder of the New York label Aimé Leon Dore, who shapes the colour palettes and overall direction of the line: muted tones, a vintage feel, and clean New York minimalism.

Historically, the line traces back to 1982, when New Balance unveiled the 990 in Boston, then the first running shoe to break the $100 price point. To this day, the 990 remains, alongside the 992, 993, and 1300, the core of the collection.

The upper is typically premium pigskin suede paired with technical mesh, while the midsole relies on ENCAP and ABZORB cushioning. These are the same materials and technologies New Balance has refined for decades, just assembled by hand and in smaller volumes.

New Balance 992 Made in USA Grey/ Grey/ Silver Metalic Gy

€184.49 (down from €230.00). The 992 is one of the most sought-after models within Made in USA. Grey is its natural territory, and the embroidered logo detail on the tongue shows exactly the level of craftsmanship the line is built on.

New Balance 1300 Made in USA Slate Grey

€157.49 (down from €210.00). The 1300 is one of the most technically loaded models in the entire collection, and the “Made in USA” tag on the tongue is its best calling card.

You’ll find the full range in the New Balance Made in USA category.

Made in UK: craftsmanship from Flimby

New Balance Made in UK is made in Cumbria, in north-west England. Production began there in 1982 in Workington, and moved a few miles down the road to the village of Flimby in 1991, where around 300 people now hand-produce roughly 30,000 pairs a month. The aesthetic is a touch calmer and harder-edged than the American line, closer to British casual culture than to New York streetwear.

The materials follow a similar logic to Made in USA: quality suede, mesh, ENCAP and ABZORB underfoot. The main difference is in the design language, the 991 and 1500 lean more on tradition than on bold colour experimentation.

New Balance 991 Made in UK Black/ Smoked Pearl/ Silver Bk2

€225.49 (down from €250.00). Black 991 is the most versatile choice in the entire British line, and probably the best entry point if you’re new to Made in UK.

New Balance 991 Made in UK Nimbus Cloud/ Cool Grey 7 C/ Silver Lg2

€250.00. A softer, tonal grey that leans closer to greige than true grey, and one of the most versatile colourways currently in the UK range.

New Balance 991 Made in UK Black/ Black/ Black Kk2

€162.49 (down from €250.00). A fully tonal black colourway with no contrast panels, the closest thing to a blank canvas the UK line currently offers.

You’ll find the rest of the range in the New Balance Made in UK category.

Why do Made in USA and Made in UK cost more?

The price difference comes down to a few concrete factors. Labour in a US or UK factory costs significantly more than in the mass manufacturing hubs in Asia, where most sneakers on the market are made. A large part of the upper is still cut, sewn, and glued by hand rather than on a fully automated line, which means lower daily output per worker and higher cost per pair. On top of that come the materials, premium suede and mesh, which differ in quality from the standard synthetics used in mass production.

For Made in USA, that threshold is set explicitly, at least 70% domestic value, which further limits both production volume and material sourcing. A similar principle applies in Flimby, just without a formally published percentage. Lower volumes naturally mean a higher price and a rarer pair. For Made in USA, the price also reflects the work Teddy Santis and his team put into the colour palette design.

These lines aren’t superior to New Balance’s main collection, they represent a different category of manufacturing altogether, with a different volume, a different amount of labour, and a price that logically follows from that.

Whether you’re drawn to the American or the British line, both are currently in stock at Footshop.