As author Erik Reece writes about the Shaker community known for its exquisite artisanship, “What we lost with the Shakers was a kind of spiritual materialism…where craft replaced commodity, where quality of the object trumped quantity of goods, and all distinctions vanished between the beautiful and the useful.” It is a rare object indeed that successfully combines those two qualities and I like to think one example is the new sneakers in which I just invested.
It is the latest version of the iconic New Balance 990 (pictured above). And I do mean invested, as I literally plan on it being the last pair of sneakers I own. Originally launched in 1982, the 990 was the first $100 sneaker ($300 in today’s money), and I paid about the middle price of the two figures. Linda got herself a pair last year and raved about them so I got a pair for myself and I am not disappointed.
Fellow Apple aficionados may be aware that Steve Jobs famously rounded out his signature wardrobe with a pair of New Balance 990 series sneakers. And another factor that appealed to my sensibilities is that the shoe is proudly handstitched here in the USA (New England). As a company New Balance has strived since its founding in 1906 to focus its attention more on making quality products than manufacturing the most quantity.
I only own a grand total of FIVE pairs of shoes and so I am willing to invest in quality goods that stand the test of time. It is as author Barbara Sher wrote, “A quality life has a lot more to do with what you remove from your life than what you add to it.” As we prepare to move I am reminded anew of how our minimalist aesthetic has helped us limit our possessions while investing in quality over quantity.