Espresso and Milk: how Todd Snyder gave the New Balance T500 a coffee-shop makeover for his own stores

Todd Snyder and New Balance are teaming up once again.

The Todd Snyder x New Balance T500 'Café Pack' comes in two colorways, Espresso and Milk, and takes its cue from the coffee shop around your corner. For the Todd Snyder x New Balance T500, the designer swaps canvas for shaggy suede.

The T500 first appeared in 1982 as a tennis shoe. Its flat, low profile later earned it a following among skaters and people who dress on their own terms.

Where the classic version often relies on canvas, the New York menswear designer goes for something warmer and more tactile.

According to Todd Snyder, the colours and textures come straight from your neighbourhood café. And from a few of its regulars.

Who are they? Reports say it's the dogs that wander in every day.

This isn't the first time the two have worked together. Earlier projects include the 997 'Triborough' collection, with versions such as the 997 Triborough Grey, and the 327 'Farmers Market' pack, which gave us the 327 Ghost Pepper and the 327 Workwear.

To mark ten years of Todd Snyder, the 992 10th Anniversary followed. The 992 Duck Camo and the 998 Dark & Stormy carry his name too.

Suede, croc and a gum sole

The upper is made from so-called hairy suede, roughly brushed so the fibres stand up. On top sits a leather logo with a crocodile stamp, a subtle contrast to the fuzzy surface.

The product pages list the pairs as 'Toasted Almond' (Espresso) and 'Desert Beige' (Milk): a warm brown against a light, creamy option. You can take the names fairly literally.

Below the upper sits a gum midsole with built-in, raised foam arch support. The rubber outsole has a herringbone pattern for grip and a pivot circle under the ball of the foot, a detail that harks back to the model's tennis roots.

That focus on the arch is no coincidence. New Balance founder William Riley designed his first arch support in 1906 after studying the claws of the chickens in his backyard.

This year the brand celebrates 120 years of design, something Todd Snyder highlights on his campaign page.

He describes today's T500 as a shoe made for leisure rather than competition. That puts the Todd Snyder x New Balance T500 firmly in casual territory.

The Café Pack has been released through Todd Snyder's online store and shops, which reportedly sell the pair exclusively. A European release date and a euro price have not yet been confirmed.

Whether the colorways will turn up at European retailers is unknown at this point.

Into the Todd Snyder x New Balance T500? Check out more T500 versions at New Balance or take a look at our New Balance page for the full range.