Junya Watanabe now sells two versions of the New Balance 471, a shoe that gained traction on TikTok even though it only launched in spring 2025. The collaboration marks the thirteenth time the Japanese designer has joined forces with New Balance, following earlier work on shoes like the 1906L and the 650 basketball model. The new release comes in two colors: Grey and Navy Blue. Both keep the flat, low profile shape that dominated sneaker trends in 2025 while swapping in premium materials.
The regular 471 costs £90 and is built from nylon. Watanabe replaces that with short haired suede and tight knit mesh across the upper. The N logos switch from standard textile to tumbled leather. Fang shaped panels sit on the toebox, nodding to older New Balance shoes like the 327 and 237. The upgrades lift the material quality while leaving the clean lines that first drew attention on social media.
New Balance launched the 471 in its spring 2025 lineup. The shoe suits the current preference for flat trainers with minimal cushioning and slim profiles, a shift away from the bulky running shoes that dominated earlier years. The low price and simple aesthetic sent the 471 viral on TikTok long before any collaboration news broke.
Watanabe sticks to his signature monochromatic approach for both pairs. The Grey version mixes light and mid grey tones across every material. The Navy pair follows the same pattern in deep blue shades. The restrained palette matches his previous New Balance work and his broader design philosophy favoring subtle refinement over obvious branding or contrasting panels.
The shoes sell through New Balance and select stockists like Dover Street Market. The brand has not confirmed pricing, though the premium materials suggest a figure well above the standard 471’s £90 price point. The release continues Watanabe’s pattern of selecting already hyped shoes and elevating them through better materials rather than dramatic redesigns, a method that has sustained the partnership across thirteen years.
