Tokyo, Japan – June 29, 2020 Today global athletic leader New Balance announced the opening of a new concept shop, New Balance T-HOUSE, in Nihonbashi Hamacho on the East side of Tokyo. The New Balance T-HOUSE is inspired by the spirit of hospitality within Japanese tearoom culture and will be the home of the Tokyo Design Studio.
The New Balance T-HOUSE will have special releases from a variety of the brand’s global collaborations and the Tokyo Design Studio. The products will feature the latest technology and concepts, accompanied by a range of original products exclusive to the shop. In addition, artists and creators spanning a range of genres will produce installations based on a new theme each month. The space will be a fusion of contemporary and traditional architecture, with a 122-year-old kura (warehouse) used in a functional new way. In addition, the brand’s Tokyo Design Studio will be based in one section of the building. Aligned with the culture of Hamacho, which has a prosperous history as a manufacturing area, the studio will function as a place where creation is born.
The New Balance T-HOUSE Instagram account will launch in preparation for the shops opening on July 17: @newbalance_t_house and #newbalance_t_house.
Store Details:
■ Address: 3-9-2 Nihonbashi Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
■ Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday 11:00~14:00, 15:00~19:00; Friday to Sunday 11:00~19:00
■ Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
■ Important information regarding shopping
- Cashless transactions only, including credit cards (cash transactions not available)
- Shopping bags available at an additional cost
- Placing the highest priority on the safety of customers and staff, the shop may have entry restrictions in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
New Balance T-HOUSE: Product releases
At New Balance T-HOUSE, new releases and original products will be accompanied by a monthly installation produced in collaboration with artists and creators spanning a range of genres.
- New Balance Tokyo Design Studio footwear, apparel and accessories
- New Balance Tokyo Design Studio collaboration footwear, apparel and accessories
- New Balance (global collaboration) footwear, apparel and accessories (selected items only)
- New Balance T-HOUSE original products
- Installations and workshops will also be presented in collaboration with artists and creators across various genres
New Balance T-HOUSE: Interior design
New Balance believes that in order for tradition and culture to evolve, there needs to be fresh interpretations that align with the times, bringing tradition and culture into daily life through new ways. In order to achieve this, the brand wanted to further celebrate the products of the past and create a place where stories are shared through a wide range of expressions. That place is the New Balance T-HOUSE. The architect Jo Nagasaka was commissioned for the design supervision and interior design of the New Balance T-HOUSE. Combining tradition with the present day, the design features a traditional Japanese warehouse that was constructed more than 120 years ago. The warehouse has been relocated and reassembled inside the new building. Fascinated by the craftsmanship and sense of time contained within each piece of wood, Nagasakaʼ s idea that "rather than preserve a traditional warehouse beautifully, provide it with new functions and value," aligned perfectly with New Balance's thinking. Through the addition of functionality from a contemporary perspective, the warehouse serves a new role as the New Balance T-HOUSE. The flexible space moves beyond the conventional image of a warehouse by functioning as a shop that can also become an event space as well as provide a canvas for exhibitions and workshops. The New Balance T-HOUSE will provide a continuous stream of unique content to guests from Japan and overseas.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. Manufactured in the U.S. for over 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance Made U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 6,000 associates around the globe, and in 2019 reported worldwide sales of $4.0 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.
About TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance
Emerging from Boston-based New Balance's longstanding relationship with Japan, TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance is a new brand with a design team comprising members from the USA and Japan. Through Japan's unique sensibility and skillful craftsmanship, and the pursuit of truth and quality, the studio develops products that drive design and innovation forward.
About New Balance TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO
Established in 2012, Tokyo Design Studio (TDS) began developing items for global release in late 2014. After developing a number of models, TDS launched TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance in autumn 2018, utilizing unique branding that differed from existing New Balance products. On July 17, 2020, it will open a studio inside T-HOUSE New Balance.
Press Contacts:
Tsuyoshi Ikedo, New Balance
tsuyoshi.ikedo@newbalance.com
Makoto Ozawa, New Balance
Makoto.ozawa@newbalance.com
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