Alife Rivington Club aka A.R.C. has only had one collaboration with New Balance, but it was a doozy. The premium New York sneaker boutique had a chance to work on the famed “Made in the USA” 1300 in a trio of colorways. Grey and teal were both a common theme for the sneakers which all shared a special tongue tag. The clean silhouettes were fitting considering the shop’s classy and upscale in-store experience.
Ensuring that A.R.C.’s sneakers were given the full treatment New Balance’s top craftsman group, Super Team 33, were responsible for every single A.R.C. 1300 made. Premium suede and mesh were the featured materials on the shoes, hand crafted in the Skowhegan factory. Although the all-teal version is the one we see mostly nowadays, the grey pair with teal “N” logo is a personal favorite.
Finding someone with all three pairs together is a rare sight and they are valued far above their $165 retail price. Released six years ago, these are still some of the most sought after 1300’s ever made.