New Balance 550 or "P550 Basketball Oxford
Designed in 1989 by Steven Smith, the well-known designer who also created the Yeezy 700 and Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage 2, the New Balance 550 wasn't an immediate success. Initially launched under the name "P550 Basketball Oxford", it came up against strong competition from brands such as Converse, Reebok and Nike. With its design inspired by the low-profile basketball shoes of the era, the 550 struggled to stand out from the crowd.
Redesign and success with Teddy Santis
The New Balance 550's destiny took an unexpected turn in 2020 thanks to the contribution of Teddy Santis. With a detailed approach and a total redesign, the 550 was relaunched. The collaboration with the Aimé Leon Dore label was particularly successful, introducing the 550 with modern colors and an effective marketing campaign. Since then, many new colorways and collaborations have made their mark, such as the 550 White Green.
