Quick Facts
- The WTAPS x New Balance 1300 Made in USA is a premium mix of black leather and mesh with a co-branded hit of white leather on the heel tab
- The entire upper is covered in soft black leather, minus the tight-knit mesh on the toebox and side box windows
- The WTAPS x New Balance 1300 Made in USA is currently available through retailer DA ACE, but it’s expected to be released February 20, 2026
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WTAPS has been in the streetwear game for longer than some sneakerheads have been alive, carrying a legacy for Japanese fashion not with color, but with premium material and subtle branding. For the brand’s latest collaboration with Boston-based New Balance, WTAPS is going cross-continental with a blacked-out Made in USA 1300.
The WTAPS x New Balance 1300 Made in USA is a premium mix of black leather and mesh with a co-branded hit of white leather on the heel tab. The entire upper is covered in soft black leather, minus the tight-knit mesh on the toebox and side box windows. More white is added on the ENCAP logo at the heel of the midsole, and the border of the side panel “N” features a glowing reflective coating.
WTAPS has been flexing sneaker collabs for decades now, from the early days of all-over print crossbone Vans to a recent run of New Balance collabs in subtle colorways and premium materials. For one of the industry’s most prolific collaborators, this pair is a perfect mix of decadent and discreet.
The WTAPS x New Balance 1300 Made in USA is currently available through retailer DA ACE, but it’s expected to be released February 20, 2026 through select retailers in Europe. For now, there’s no word on a stateside release, but we’ve got our fingers crossed. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is still TBD. For all the latest New Balance collab news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
