Justin Saunders does not make loud sneakers. The Montreal-based creative director behind JJJJound — a studio functioning more like a research archive than a design house — has spent fifteen years reminding the footwear industry that restraint is a skill, not an absence of vision. When JJJJound drops a collaboration, the colourways are quiet, the materials are precise, and the sellout is immediate. On June 25, 2026, the studio drops its latest New Balance collaboration: the JJJJound x New Balance 1890 Pack, two colourways at $200 each, exclusively via JJJJound.com at 9 AM EST.
This is not their first time with New Balance. The twelfth-plus entry in a collaboration relationship spanning years and nearly a dozen silhouettes — JJJJound has hit the 992, the 990v4, the 993, and others. Each time, the formula is the same: take an existing NB silhouette, apply colour discipline, let the materials handle the conversation. This time the canvas is the 1890 — a silhouette New Balance introduced in 2026, one that has already attracted Stone Island and Joe Freshgoods within the same year.
Why the New Balance 1890 Is the Silhouette of 2026
New Balance launched the 1890 this year as a maximalist technical runner wrapped in a minimal design language — which sounds contradictory, but the shoe pulls it off. Bulkier than the 990 family, more considered than the 9060, it sits in an interesting middle space: too technical for people who want a clean everyday trainer, too refined for pure sport. That ambiguity makes it a magnet for collaborators who want to say something with negative space.
Stone Island dropped their 1890 collab in early June — shaggy suede at the heel, checkerboard taping, a distinctly workwear-meets-trail aesthetic. Joe Freshgoods and Action Bronson have entries in the pipeline. JJJJound's pack, releasing June 25, takes the opposite approach: where Stone Island leaned textural and layered, JJJJound goes collegiate and composed. The contrast between two perspectives on the same base silhouette is genuinely one of the more interesting design conversations this season.
Two Colourways: Opposite Energies, One Clear Winner
The White/Grey colourway is the more compelling pick. White base, silver and grey teardrop toe panelling, black and yellow "N" logo on the side panel — it reads like a 1990s university athletic shoe filtered through a contemporary lens. The ABZORB midsole in off-white adds cushion and a period-accurate visual weight. According to Sneaker News and Sole Retriever, both colourways feature co-branded insoles and lateral heel detailing, with unisex sizing across the run.
The Black colourway is a different animal. Blacked-out upper, white tongue for contrast, white laces that interrupt the monotony — it has a formal, tuxedo-adjacent sensibility that makes it more versatile than most black sneakers but harder to pair carelessly. Satin-like taping on the overlays adds a subtle material play that only reads well up close. Both retail at $200 — the same price, genuinely different shoes.
Getting This to India: The Real Numbers
No Indian retail partner has been announced. JJJJound.com ships internationally — that's your best option — but work out the full landed cost before committing. At $200 retail plus international shipping (typically $25–40), you're already past ₹19,000 before India customs. Add approximately 28% import duty plus GST, and a pair costs ₹23,000 to ₹25,000 landed. Not cheap for a $200 shoe, but comparable to what premium NB collabs have always cost to bring in here.
Post-drop, Crepdog Crew and Hypefly typically list JJJJound units within a week or two of the US release. Expect ₹22,000 to ₹28,000 at those channels — comparable to landed cost, but simpler and with no customs surprises. Superkicks may also stock a small allocation, particularly for the White/Grey colourway which tends to move faster with Indian buyers.
New Balance is currently the fastest-growing major sneaker brand in India. The Bangalore and Pune tech crowds have driven serious adoption of the 990, 9060, and 1906R lines over the past two years. The 1890 is a newer chapter in that story, and the JJJJound version targets the collector segment specifically — a smaller market, but an engaged one that pays attention to this kind of release.
What We'd Actually Buy — and the Honest Caveat
The White/Grey colourway is the clear choice for India. Cream and grey tones are more practical in dust and heat than all-black suede, and the collegiate energy of the White/Grey pairs naturally with loose cotton trousers, shorts, and the relaxed tailoring that Mumbai and Delhi streetwear is moving toward. The yellow "N" logo is a quiet flex that people who know will catch immediately.
At ₹23,000–₹25,000 landed, this is a sensible buy if you're a committed New Balance or JJJJound collector. If you're newer to the brand and exploring where to start, spend the same money on a New Balance 1906R or 990v4 instead. They're more proven, more available, and you'll develop a better sense of what NB does well before you invest in a collab. The JJJJound x 1890 is not a first-shoe purchase — it's a statement that requires context to land properly.
That said: at retail via JJJJound.com on June 25, you are not overpaying. Set an alarm for 9 AM EST (6:30 PM IST), be on the site five minutes early, and have payment details saved. These sell out in under ten minutes. We covered the Stone Island x New Balance 1890 earlier this month — check our piece on the Stone Island 1890 collab for a different perspective on the same base silhouette and decide which one speaks to you more before June 25.
