Information On New Balance 1300 Tennis Shoes

The 1980s bring to mind acid-washed jeans, leg warmers, granny boots, stirrup pants, shoulder pads and suede and mesh running shoes. Of those fashions, one has endured. The New Balance 1300 running shoe remains a strong seller for the Boston, Massachusetts--based manufacturer. You can purchase New Balance 1300s in a wide variety of widths and sizes, for men, women and children.

Classic Styling

The New Balance 1300 debuted in 1985 as a technical running shoe. The sueded toe cap and trim, mesh fabric body and wedged sole of the shoe are a classic '80s design. At the time, New Balance 1300s were one of the most expensive sneakers available to consumers. An oversized N over the instep identifies the New Balance brand even from a distance. A patch on the tongue lets everyone know you're wearing the model 1300 shoes.

Materials

New Balance 1300s feature dyed pig suede in the body of the shoe. Fabric knit mesh allows for better air circulation, helping to keep your feet cool and dry. The shoes have a midsole wedge made of EVA wrapped in polyurethane. EVA provides more bounce than polyurethane, but polyurethane lasts longer, so combining the new materials results in a bouncy sole that wears well. A fabric-lined tongue and cotton laces complete the shoe. When possible, New Balance obtains the raw materials for its shoes in the United States.

Made in USA

New Balance is the only major manufacturer of athletic shoes that continues to make some of its shoes in the United States. Factories in Boston and Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway, Maine make or assemble 25 percent of New Balance's shoes. When 70 percent or more of the shoe is made in the United States, New Balance labels that shoe with a Made in USA label.

Reissue Strategy

Since 1985, New Balance has reissued its 1300 models in different colors. As of February 2011, the company releases a special edition of the 1300s every other year in conjunction with a particular designer or retailer. The shoes carry the designer's or retailer's brand as a part of the shoe name, and are available around the country. In 2009 New Balance issued the 1300 X ALIFE with the Alife Rivington Club, a New York City--based boutique. The boutique chose the colors and some style details for the shoe, which remains the basic 1300 design. The shoes are still made on the original lasts from 1985.