The UAE joined countries around the world to celebrate Grey Day, with one of the world’s leading sneaker communities.

Cultural events across the globe were held in honour of New Balance’s iconic 574 silhouette, a global icon in the sneaker world. Such is the popularity of the shoe, which was originally released in the late 80s; the grey colour has since become synonymous with the brand itself. After a popular re-launch of the shoe in 2013, the brand have continued to market the timeless design with ‘Grey Day’, a series of events around the world celebrating the colour palette, which is widely recognised by trainer fanatics.

New Balance were ground-breaking with the launch of the 620 running shoe, originally released in 1980, as it was the first sneaker to offer a full grey upper on the urban running scene. Two years later the grey New Balance 990 was also released to challenge the popular culture at the time. It was the first-ever $100 running shoe and released in grey, which ironically, was a bold move in a market saturated with bright neon running shoes.

At the ‘Grey Day’ events the company released the 574 with distinct colourways along with a ‘Legacy of Grey’ edition of the 574 inspired by the original 990 colourway. A ‘Classic Grey’ theme made its way onto the casual shoe too.

Grey Day was celebrated in the fashion capitals of the world including Dubai, London, Madrid, Paris and Milan. Guests were treated to live music, interactive timelines from the brand’s campaigns and art exhibitions talks, with a focal point centered around the famous “N” logo. The events referenced the classic’s transcendence from its running roots to a fashion staple with a photo exhibition highlighting the timeless 574 sneaker.

Now one of the most recognised sneaker brands on the planet, New Balance record annual sales close to $4 billion dollars with five factories across the United States.