New Balance keeps pulling from its archive, and the latest example is the 1890A, a moccasin and runner hybrid that now arrives in a Black and Purple makeup under the style code U18905JK.
The 1890A is one of New Balance‘s stranger recent silhouettes, a design that borrows the soft, hand-sewn look of a driving moc and drops it onto a cushioned running sole. It reads as a loafer from the top down, with a slip-on collar and a stitched apron toe, but the platform underneath belongs to a running shoe. That mix has quietly built a following for people who want comfort without committing to either dress shoes or full-on sneakers.
This version leans dressy. The upper pairs black patent leather with purple accents, a combination that photographs closer to formal footwear than to anything you would expect on a running rack. To me that signals New Balance is comfortable letting the 1890A live in the lifestyle lane rather than forcing it back toward performance.
It also fits where New Balance sits right now, a brand that has spent the last few years turning odd, archival ideas into steady sellers. The 1890A is not a Grey Day headliner, but it gives the catalog a quieter, more grown-up option, and the black and purple treatment gives it a little edge.
Release details: The New Balance 1890A Black Purple releases August 13, 2026 for $190, style code U18905JK.
Where to buy: Look for the 1890A Black Purple at New Balance and select New Balance stockists. Keep an eye on our releases feed for updates.
