New Balance’s Smash-Hit Grandpa Sneaker Just Got an Outdoorsy Makeover

When Drake’s and New Balance first teased a collaboration over the weekend, one of our editors said it best: “This might be the most GQ sneaker ever.” He’s not wrong—Drake’s has been a favorite around these parts for years and years, thanks to the label’s fresh, preppy approach to traditional British tailoring. Be it suits, shirts, or (especially) neckties, the London haberdasher makes some of the best in the game. New Balance occupies a similar space in the sneaker world, with a focus on quality materials and intentional craftsmanship. Both brands share an ethos and aesthetic that feels in lockstep. The only question was if the fruits of the partnership would live up to the potential.

Happily, the answer is a resounding yes. This week, Drake’s and New Balance—specifically the latter’s Made in UK branch, which crafts a selection of shoes in an intimate factory setting—revealed their first collaborative collection, which happens to be centered on one of our favorite shoes of the year: the New Balance Allerdale.

Since launching in March, the Allerdale has helped bring the granddad shoe trend further into the mainstream, and it feels poised to become a major player in New Balance’s plans for the future. This partnership confirms those suspicions, giving the sneaker a high-profile menswear brand’s stamp of approval and producing the coolest colorway we’ve seen of the Allerdale to date. Rather than following the monotone approach of the first few general releases, Drake’s decked the silhouette out in exquisitely blocked colors and contrasting textiles, from a chocolatey pebbled leather to a forest-green suede, with pink laces and a yellow sole to cap it all off. It hints at the potential for future collaborators to really freak it with the silhouette, which so far has only been seen in quieter colorways.

It doesn’t stop with the sneakers, though. It wouldn’t be a proper Drake’s collaboration without apparel to match. The accompanying line includes a beautiful waterproof jacket and a tan fishing vest sure to make a menswear moodboard or two, alongside some classic striped rugby shirts, graphic tees, an embroidered cap, and a tote bag.

The New Balance Made in UK x Drake’s collection drops this Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. EST.