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As the days get shorter, New Balance swaps mesh for wool. With the New Balance Tweed Luxe Leather Pack, two Made in UK models get an upper that looks more like a British blazer than a running shoe.
Harris Tweed and black leather form the foundation of the 991v1 and the Allerdale. The New Balance Tweed Luxe Leather Pack drops on 20 November 2026, with the 991v1 priced at €270.
The 991 arrived in 2001 as part of the 99X series, which began with the 990 in 1982. What started out as a running shoe grew into a lifestyle staple. Steve Jobs regularly wore a grey pair in the early 2000s. A 991v2 has existed since 2023, but this pack goes back to the original version.
The 991v1 takes centre stage here. Black premium leather forms the overlays, with Harris Tweed from the Hebrides underneath in a houndstooth pattern of black, beige and brown. That pattern traces back to 1880s Scotland.
An embroidered NB logo and a sculpted 'N' complete the branding. Under the upper sits the familiar ENCAP midsole with ABZORB pods, on a rubber outsole.
New Balance makes the pair in its own factory in Flimby, in the north-west of England. The colorway is called 'Raven with Chipmunk'.
The Allerdale is a much younger model: New Balance introduced it in March 2025. The name refers to the district in Cumbria where the Flimby factory is located. For the design, the brand looked to its Hiker models and the walking shoes it made in England in the 1980s.
That background shows in this pack. The Allerdale wears the same mix of fabric and leather as the 991v1, but is more clearly built for bad weather. Black tumbled leather forms the base.
A wax finish makes the leather water-resistant, and D-rings on the laces give the shoe a hiking feel. An embroidered 'Flying NB' logo sits on the saddle.
Underfoot you get FuelCell foam in a cupsole, with an Ortholite insole. A European retail price for the Allerdale has not been announced yet.
Why tweed and leather work right now
Tweed and leather are not a new pairing. Still, they fit neatly into a shift in which sneaker brands increasingly reach for classic tailoring fabrics instead of mesh and synthetics.
Harris Tweed is the clearest example: the cloth is handwoven in the Outer Hebrides and carries a protected certification mark.
That story of origin and craftsmanship ties in seamlessly with the Made in UK line, where New Balance puts local production front and centre.
The season plays its part too. Tweed looks warm and has long belonged to coats and blazers. Leather makes a sneaker sturdier and better suited to wet weather.
Together they give a dad shoe like the 991v1 a calm, almost formal look that you can wear with wool trousers just as easily as with jeans.
The idea itself isn't new: Nike dressed the Dunk Low in Harris Tweed last year, and New Balance has released tweed versions of the 991 before. The New Balance Tweed Luxe Leather Pack is a logical next step, with a darker, more wintry palette than you might expect from the brand.
The complete pack launches online at New Balance on 20 November 2026. You can already sign up for a notification on the product page.
Each order allows a maximum of one pre-order pair in your basket.
With the New Balance Tweed Luxe Leather Pack, the Made in UK line shows how well a British fabric and a classic runner go together. The 991v1 in particular makes that combination convincing.
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