Archive X New Balance Bring The 950 Home To Jozi

An intimate night of culture and community, headlined by a convo with Giants captain Arinze Dim.

FASHIONEVENTS

Admin

7/27/20262 min read

Archive linked up with New Balance to officially land the 950 on South African soil, hosting an intimate launch at Kleinsky's in Johannesburg. Creatives, media, tastemakers and the local ball community pulled up for a night that felt less like a product drop and more like a cultural moment — built on the same foundation the shoe was designed around: culture, craft and community.

THE SHOE

Pulled straight from New Balance's basketball archives, the 950 reworks a mid-80s court classic for right now. Premium leather and suede, a streamlined silhouette, wide toe box, puffed "N" branding and that signature basketball tongue detail — it's built on hardwood heritage but made for everyday movement. On-court DNA, off-court versatility.

MORE THAN A CONVO

The night's centerpiece was a live discussion hosted by cultural commentator Kabelo Moremi, sitting down with Johannesburg Giants captain and SA basketball standout Arinze Nino Diketso Dim. The talk went past performance stats — digging into how basketball shapes identity, fuels creativity and builds community, both on the court and off it.

Dim, captain of the Giants in the Basketball Africa League and currently SA's No. 1 ranked FIBA 3x3 player — spoke on how the discipline, consistency and composure under pressure that built his career translate directly into how he moves day-to-day. For him, the 950 isn't just a nod to basketball's past — it's a natural extension of that heritage into contemporary style.

THE ROOM

Music, food and immersive product moments let guests engage with the silhouette naturally throughout the night, spotlighting how deep basketball's influence runs through Johannesburg's fashion, art and youth culture right now.

The local activation ties into New Balance's global 950 campaign fronted by Cooper Flagg and his brothers — a story rooted in family and authenticity. Where the global campaign speaks through family, Johannesburg told it through community — proof that basketball's connective power translates across borders.

THE TAKEAWAY

With the 950, Archive and New Balance keep doing what they do best, using story, design and real experience to connect product to people, not just push stock.