In 1906, an English inventor in Boston, Massachusetts, set out to improve footwear performance for those on their feet all day. William J. Riley was inspired by the perfect balance exhibited by chickens in his yard. His first product, a flexible arch support, was designed with three points of support in the shape of a triangle. By mimicking a chicken’s clawed foot, these three points created greater balance and comfort. With this invention, a new company, New Balance Arch, was born. New Balance designers and engineers take inspiration from almost everywhere – from nature, to elite athletes, to simple everyday objects and activities. What hasn’t changed is our focus on improving performance. New Balance innovation continues to be about changing the footprint of running.
