The Origin of New Balance in Washington, DC

DC's Shoe, a documentary short by Jacob Garibay, is a visual history of New Balance in Washington, DC. Understanding the culture that caused a running shoe to make the organic transition into a true lifestyle silhouette for DC in the early 80s. Interviews with DC natives give deeper perspective and direct insight into the stories that follow. This isn't about who started the trend - draw your own conclusion. More than any sneaker or brand this project represents culture and storytelling for the most vibrant city in America. New Balance serves as the vehicle for this particular story. Tried and true; Washington DC's culture remains unparalleled.

[@sonnygaribay2405]

The original Doc!

[@lancasteredc7773]

DC deserves the recognition ❤ they made this brand popular hands down… my senior year of high school I went to a trip to DC, Baltimore and Philly and everyone wearing the 1300 or 574 and that was my intro to their shoes and they were my favorite hands down! Now I got 4 pairs only but they will grow!

[@danithegamer7992]

New Balance owes so much to the DMV area for what they did to bring this brand into the limelight

[@CardBoardHD]

Nah DC

[@davidlam8611]

I first visited DC in 1996 and I saw lots runners wear 'em near the Capitol Hill area, classic grey New Balances. Two years later, I bought my first pair the 990 in 1998, which is now known as the 990 version 2. I am from Canada and I was the first person to rock the grey New Balances in Canada, I swear. In 1999, I saw in the Italian fashion magazine called L'uomo Vogue, they had a fashion photoshoot of models wearing the grey New Balance 990 version 2 wearing classic clothing, and I knew that these shoes are good looking and will work well with different outfits. Heck, I ran my first 10k running event in 2002 wearing the New Balance 991.

[@Mycoldyourdone]

🔥🔥🔥 finally a proper documentary for the DC NB culture! Well done! 💯

[@HiLLWiLL-bb7kp]

We need this 💫!!!

[@DeeWells]

Great film! It’s amazing how much DC influenced the culture going on 4 decades! Thank you.

[@candicemcrae148]

DC rocked New Balance the best because everybody's feet looked good in them - unlike the Reebok Classic, Freestyle, Fila Classic, or K-Swiss which were a hit or miss fit. New Balance definitely belongs to DC Culture! Loved this documentary.

[@FreeTheColonized]

This one of them videos ik imma keep coming back to. Interesting seeing new balance be so popular now seeing them so often here growing up

[@ugwunnaamadi1183]

Say kill

[@robertwalker2202]

I grew up in DC and I am still here and I remember growing up and I used to cry as kid because we were poor to buy them and I used to watch all of the hustlers wearing them and I used to imagine how I would love to have them. Once I able to get a pair I went crazy buying them in the bundles. My favorite are the 2000's some of the most comfortable shoes ever.

[@2damooncrew]

New York punching the air rite now.

[@HiLLWiLL-bb7kp]

Punching the air and sliding down the wall 😂

[@ThoughtsPending]

Good the truth will set them free lmao

[@josegiraldo3148]

Not really they set a lot more trends,but yea this one go to DC ,I fuk wit new balance heavy now ,I'm from miami

[@jkirpalani]

As someone from NYC, I'm happy to give other cities props. I consider it urban culture. Last year I got hit with the NB bug HARD. Just copped grey v6s and 1906Rs over the weekend.

[@bkborn4256]

I'm from NYC and to me it's always been a DC shoe.

[@KingMarcellous]

Now we need a Nike Boots documentary. 💯💪🏽🏁

[@DaMannDC1]

Congratulations on your a great documentary about DC style. I rocked my first 990 pair in 1984 and always have had a pair in my closet since.

[@dreera2597]

I remember seeing DC dudes rockin New Balance with slouch socks

[@theDavo96]

2000s & 574s will forever be my favorites I promise you DC was the only place I seen New Balances wore as a actual fashion fit

[@kwebe18]

Excellent work! I’m on tour with my 990 v5

[@glennkugelman6334]

this was sick. great story telling. quality work

[@HiLLWiLL-bb7kp]

The cinematography, the story, the color grading…this is just quality work 💫 good!!!

[@solewashsneakerlaundry7234]

So dope but also the discussion panel was priceless.

[@Christcentric7]

This was dope! DC all day!

[@Shaynesnypes]

Dope 🤟🏾trend went all across Maryland too

[@snkrheadndaatl77]

Wasn't nuttin fresher than a crisp new pair of grey 996s, then the grey with navy blue 1600s

[@quaribc]

This is really dope. 991s are the greatest sneakers ever made. The 2000s were the top tier luxury line, so comfortable. But I miss my Navy Blue 991s, the most comfortable sneakers I've ever worn.

[@davidlam8611]

I bought the New Balance 991 when it was released in 2001, it was a poorly made shoe because the Abzorb clear plastic on the shoe would break apart first within months of wearing the shoe and the quality control was poor, the left and right shoe, though I bought it as a size 11, was shaped differently in the toe box when you look down. There is a new version called the New Balance 991 v2 which is made in England which looks like it's better quality and a better made shoe.

[@LongLiveMakiyah]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 about time

[@d.c.4lifeking602]

We need a part 2 !

[@ACTIVEDIZZ101]

Dope documentary bro 🌊🌊🌊

[@dendproductions]

Awesome job Fam! Congratulations.

[@BIGHOMEY242]

Great joint slim!❤ ay that encap with the back side of a butter knife was the best you could do

[@raedream_]

Soo happy for you!! The best person for this documentary!

[@twoine21]

great job keep going! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@StatusWayofLife]

🔥🔥 too tough.

[@chiefrocka6983]

Man out west we never wore them but when I went to visit my cousins for the first time in the Sursum Cordas I asked were the official shoe for y’all 😅

[@iwontwin4real]

Great work right here!

[@arckitech1]

Well put together! 🔥🔥🔥

[@baddmama1000]

Very well done!

[@ugwunnaamadi1183]

Really really well done film.

[@jmclogistics5988]

Bmore been rocking these joints since 82!!! We definitely put these joints on da map😎

[@kevinsalgado1656]

Cap

[@jmclogistics5988]

@@kevinsalgado1656 I’m 50yrs old Bra. I got a bunion on my foot as a memorial to this day. My cousin foot was smaller then mine a them joints are cut narrow and I shoved my feet in them because I couldn’t afford them back in the day🎯💯💯

[@jmclogistics5988]

@@kevinsalgado1656 Ain’t no Cap in my Rap👀We did that🎯💯

[@gypzij381]

Nah 😂 Nice try tho❤

[@d.c.4lifeking602]

Ronnie Ferg need to se this

[@zellm1168]

Had to double back🙏🏾

[@CrystalV919]

So dope!!!❤❤

[@umfocus0076]

Somebody Need to get this to my fellow #Baltimorians .. I’m jive tired of this argument💪🏿

[@Conway1848]

great content

[@dreonthebeat202]

I had my first pair when I was a baby

[@Yungburrito24]

🔥🔥🔥

[@davidlam8611]

Does anyone know the name music video from the early 2000's or maybe, late 90's where all of the rappers wore New Balances in the video? In the video, there were seen rapping in the middle of the street at night and they were all wearing New Balances in various colours.

[@chartarapowell5158]

I have the blue and white New Balance

[@Palayon]

Yessuhhhhh

[@kevincastro8410]

Growing up is was Nike, New Balance, or Jordan’s. #202

[@anthonymay5363]

996’s 🔥

[@ytwizzle]

Now they are bout to watch and say we have been wearing those versions 😂😂

[@ThecrazyJH96]

There’s a reason Kanye got his style from the dc

[@mitchell7309]

Lol … Ye developed his flavor in Chicago and is clearly more Nike influenced than NB. No one wore those shits outside of Boston and old crusty white dudes

[@Mrwashington007]

Baltimore take this L

[@donsmith1182]

This is rather confusing. In the very early 1980s all the guys were wearing white Adidas and in contrast, the white kids were wearing black or other color Nikes. In the mid 1980s, in Go Go there was a pronounced shift to Fila. Girls wore pastel Reeboks. Had to be Reeboks, had to be light blue, pink, white or other bright colors for girls. Mid-80s, White kids started wearing indoor soccer shoes- specifically Mitre. Mitre Indoor Soccer shoes were absolutely hot in 1985, 86, 87 and completely unknown outside of DC- they were slim and low to the ground which was on purpose when junior high kids were wearing unlaced, pumped up white Jordans- always bought a size too big because these little kids were going to "grow into them." This is when kids in NYC were revisiting the Adidas Samba. The indoor soccer shoes were big with skaters in the winter when Vans were just too cold. As far as I'm concerned, this film is either hyper local to one store and one high school or primarily fictional. I knew plenty of people in Go Go and they wore Adidas and then shifted to Fila track suits and sneakers by 1986. This movie just focused on one crew and ignored everyone else who made up the majority of the city.

[@freestudiosdc]

I appreciate your perspective - consider nobody else was wearing NB for fashion in the 80s as much as DC no matter how big or small that demographic may have been. Sales data will support this fact as it has been acknowledged by New Balance. Not EVERYBODY was wearing them but, it was enough people to make a difference. I look forward to you telling your story in a meaningful way!

[@d.c.4lifeking602]

​@free productions, your obviously not from the D.C. area if you don't know the impact New Balances sneakers made in the D.C. area . I remember things quite differently, referring to NBs .I remember the 575s,995s and it was a 7 series NB,I can't remember the specific number ,they weren't as popular as the other NBs, but all of those NBs along with the 1300s NBs, wich cost 130.00 in 1986 ,took over as the MAIN sneaker to rock. D.C. kids and young adults started buying NBs in Masses at this time . Thats a fact.We wore other sneakers too but to me from 1986 untill now New Balance was what we were known for.

[@jacquesretro]

Listen to what the lady said at 6:00

[@302cho7]

I’m from Delaware and my cousin from DC put me on to the 990s & foamposites back in 06 and I haven’t look back since 🫡

[@LishCouture]

Hi, do you have an Instagram?

[@freestudiosdc]

Free.Jacob

[@Dukecity1]

🔥🔥🔥

[@MichelJohnson333]

🔥🔥🔥