Publisher/Author: Up There Store
Editor: Robert Mitchell
Publication Date: July, 2016
Language: English
ISBN: None
120 Pages
“An in-depth, retrospective look at the innovation, history and ingenuity behind one of the most enduring and celebrated footwear series ever”
In 2016, Melbournce Australia based Up There Store put together an exhibition documenting the history of the NB 99X series, “not just to the committed sneaker collector, but everyone interested in brilliant and timeless design” (pg. 2). In conjunction with this remarkable exhibition, they put together and released a limited edition book (soft cover, more like what the Japanese call a ‘mook’, magazine/book).
The book documents the 99X models individually: M990 (1982); M990GRY (2012); M990GRY (2014); M995 (1986); CM995 (Circa 1986); M995GR (2016); M996 (1988); M996 (2015); M997 (1990); M997GRY (2014); M997GY2 (2015); M998 (1993); M998 (2015); M999 (1996); ML999GR (2011); M990v2GR (1998); M990v2GR (2016); M991GL (2001); M992GLX (2006); MR993GL (2008); CM997NUG (2009, United Arrows); M9975SGR (2016); M990v3GL3 (2012); M990v4GL4 (2016); MRL999AG (2016).
Interspersed amongst the models are interviews with collectors, designers, store owners and more, including: Thibaud Deruel (Rainman); Hikmet Sugoer (Solebox); Thomas Lindie (collector, Hanon); Steven Smith (designer); Matt Kyte (collector); Shigeyuki Kunii (Creative Director MITA); Benjamin Kella (Digital Content and Social Media Manager Hype DC); Dan Hong (collector, chef); Darren Ash (collector/NB wearer/lover); Jason Paparoulas (Creative Director Up There); Chris Davis (heir to the throne).
Sneakerature’s Take: The shoes in New Balance’s 99X series are, to many sneaker lovers, the pinnacle of what a sneaker can be. Each model is unique in its own right, yet they all subscribe to the overarching NB ethos of ‘fit above all else’. Up There’s 99X is a beautiful documentary-style book, presented in a way that parallels and compliments its subject matter; clean, mostly in shades of grey and neither under nor overstated. The book is a perfectly fitted homage to perhaps the single greatest line of sneakers in history.