New Balance Numeric 933 with designs by Mike Gigliotti

Among all the recent New Balance Numeric releases, the 933 by Andrew Reynolds quickly established itself as the line's flagship. The silhouette seamlessly blends the legendary skater's legacy with the recognizable design language of the 99x series, making it an immediate standout in the brand's catalog. In the first months after its release, New Balance largely adhered to Reynolds's in-house palette and personal aesthetic preferences, but now the model is preparing for its first collaboration.

Mike Gigliotti , a skater, artist, and founder of Lotties Skate Shop in Los Angeles, was chosen for the debut collaborative project. He's already well-known in the footwear world thanks to his high-profile collaborations with Vans and SpongeBob SquarePants in 2021. This time, Gigliotti opts for a much more subdued, more "New Balance" approach, using an earthy palette of beige, green, and gray that's sure to resonate with the brand's fans. The sober exterior is contrasted by vibrant geometric patterns on the insoles , referencing his artistic background.

This collaboration is no coincidence. Mike Gigliotti's work has appeared for years on Baker Skateboards, a brand closely associated with Reynolds. As the designer himself notes, his encounter with Baker's aesthetic began in his high school years, when the brand literally shaped Los Angeles street culture. Over time, personal connections and shared history developed into a full-fledged creative collaboration.

Gigliotti also emphasizes that the model's color scheme is largely inspired by his family's ceramics . His mother ran a pottery studio for many years, and Mike himself grew up in an environment where art was part of everyday life. It is from this background that the natural brown, sand, and green tones that form the basis of the New Balance Numeric 933's design are derived.

Ultimately, this collaboration feels more than just another colorway, but a personal project where skateboarding, art, and New Balance's heritage converge. This is an important step for the 933—the first collaboration that cements the model not only as a technical skate shoe but also as a full-fledged platform for storytelling.