Comme des Garçons HOMME Revives the New Balance 1226

Comme des Garçons HOMME and New Balance are going deep into the archive for their next project, with the Japanese imprint helping bring back the New Balance 1226 for Spring/Summer 2027.

First seen during Paris Fashion Week courtesy of Hypebeast, the collaboration reintroduces a model that originally debuted in 2011, placing it back into a New Balance landscape that has become increasingly friendly to technical runners, open-mesh builds, and heavily cushioned retro tooling. With models like the 1906R, 860v2, and 1890A already finding new life, the 1226 feels like a natural next candidate.

For its return, Comme des Garçons HOMME keeps the palette restrained. The pair works through dark brown mesh, black overlays, muted earth-tone accents, and grey-brown “N” branding, giving the once-performance-focused runner a more worn-in, understated finish. The shape still carries plenty of early-2010s running energy, from the layered forefoot to the segmented ABZORB sole unit underfoot.

The approach is familiar CDG: quiet at first glance, but specific in the details. Rather than forcing the New Balance 1226 into a loud fashion moment, the design lets the model’s awkward, technical build do most of the talking. It’s a smart re-entry point for a silhouette most casual New Balance fans probably haven’t had on their radar.

The Comme des Garçons HOMME x New Balance 1226 is expected to release in Spring/Summer 2027. Further release details are expected to follow closer to launch.