Ronnie Fieg doesn’t just remember 2010 – he’s built a career off it. Back then, the internet moved at a slower pace. Tumblr was king, sneaker blogs were gospel, and a good digicam could make or break your online clout. It was the year he founded Kith, and the time when footwear design became an obsession. Now, as Kith Manhattan reopens its doors, Fieg is using that very year as the anchor for his latest project. The Ronnie Fieg x New Balance ABZORB 2010, delivered in two knockout colourways.
Both pairs feel like relics from that golden blog era. There’s one in purples and blacks, all moody minimalism. The other is darker with pops of colour – black, yellow, pink, purple and grey layered to perfection. Fieg worked through four rounds of sampling to get them right, tweaking the colourblocking, trying asymmetry, playing with midsole tones, before settling on what he calls the most authentic balance.
Ronnie Fieg x New Balance ABZORB 2010: A simpler time
What makes this more than just another Kith drop is the sentiment behind it. Fieg has dug up his old blog – the one he used before likes and shares became metrics – to share process images and personal reflections on why this one matters. Subtle Kith monograms are embedded in the “N” logos.
“The world was very different in 2010,” he writes. “Everything felt more personal, and there was a sense of discovery.” That spirit lives in the ABZORB 2010. A silhouette that feels like it could’ve dropped then or now. Which, of course, is kind of the point.
The first release landed in-store at Kith Manhattan on 16 May to mark the flagship relaunch. A wider release is confirmed for 19 May across all Kith locations and online. Price: $160. The value? Depends how much you miss obscure sneaker blogs and uploading grainy process shots at 2am.
Next up: Meet the greatest New Balance sneakers of all time.
