New Balance’s Viral Sneaker Loafers Are Now Even Wilder Than Before

The rise of the sneaker loafer—or “snoafer,” if you’re obnoxious—has been one of the footwear world’s biggest surprises over the past couple years. When New Balance unveiled its 1906L in early 2024, it felt a bit like a viral stunt; today, though, the hybrid shoe has evolved into a full-fledged trend that brands throughout the industry are scrambling to catch up with. Everyone from Hoka to Nike has dropped their own snoafer iterations—and there are almost certainly more on the way. But for now, at least, New Balance remains at the top of the heap, managing to find new ways to keep the formula exciting—including a new collaboration with Ganni that takes the 1906L to a weirder, wilder place than ever before.

Ganni is a Danish brand with a penchant for loud prints and bold silhouettes. That passion for pattern has carried over into this latest iteration of the 1906L, which features a bold snakeskin pattern across the top of the shoe from the tongue to the toe box. It’s contrasted with glossy black and silver detailing throughout, with the heel sporting a block of gold that matches the color of the snakeskin. New Balance and Ganni logo charms adorn the penny bridges.

The result is a shoe that looks a bit like the loafers your mom may have worn in the ’90s. They’re unabashedly gaudy—but a little gaudiness never hurt anybody. More importantly, it represents a leveling up moment in the sneaker loafer era. Most of the prior 1906L colorways have been sneaker-forward in their inspiration. The Ganni x New Balance 1906L is the first that feels like it’s drawing more from traditional loafer design than sneakers. It’s a step in the right direction for a trend that’s proving to have quite a lifespan. If this drop is any indicator, the best is yet to come.

The Ganni x New Balance 1906L releases globally on September 30 for $190.