Up There has a New Balance 991v2 Made in UK Collab Coming Soon

When Australian boutique Up There dropped its very first New Balance collab in 2022, you could tell they struck gold. The 2002R Backyard Legends became one of the best NB collabs of the year, and a follow-up quickly launched later that year. Since then, we’ve seen Up There x New Balance drop a 1906R, two 860v2s (one in pink and another in green), and most recently, the retailer’s athletic-focused wing, Up There Athletics, dropped a FuelCell Rebel v5. Up There is now traveling across the globe to Flimby, UK, to drop a New Balance 991v2 project.

Last weekend, Up There posted a short teaser on their Instagram page depicting an old man walking a dog in the UK, juxtaposed with an Australian man walking his dog down a dirt road. A closer inspection reveals the older man is wearing a pair of New Balances, and the following day, another teaser was posted showcasing the Australian man making his way to the Up There Family Shoe Mart.

Yesterday, we got confirmation that the 991v2 is the model they’ve decided to work on, thanks to another quick teaser video, but it seems the factory committed an error… The tongue tag’s “Made in England” text is placed upside-down, but that’s alright if you’re from down under. Upside-down text has become a signature detail in Up There projects, like the retailer’s recent Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1.

Up There takes inspiration from coveted Made in UK releases from the early 2000s for the colorway. The retailer also worked closely with Sam Pearce, Senior Creative Design Manager at New Balance's Made in UK division, to introduce new material and design elements to the 991v2. Performance mesh is paired with faux carbon fiber leather on the midfoot, while the upper also features premium full-grain leather overlays. As mentioned before, the Made in England tag on the tongue is embroidered upside down, but Up There's influence doesn't stop there. The 991 text on the lateral heel is replaced with +61, a nod to the international calling code for Australia.

The Up There x New Balance 991v2 Made in UK was first released via a special pop-up located on the side of Old Calder Highway, about an hour-and-a-half away from Up There’s retail storefront in Melbourne. The pair will remain exclusive to Up There, with a global online drop taking place on November 28, 2025 at 8 AM AEDT (November 27 at 4 PM ET). Check below for official images, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app for real-time alerts on release info for this pair and more in the sneaker world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts, catching the latest movies, and trying new food. Email: nick@soleretriever.com