Boston is a city where the inhabitants share a rare type of camaraderie that only comes from the collective consensus of city pride. It would be hard to find a Bostonian who doesn’t love where they live and is ready at the drop of a hat to share facts about the city and what makes it special. The employees at New Balance are no exception. New Balance was founded in Boston in 1906 and is as much a part of the city as the city is a part of its culture. As you cruise the city streets, your gaze is directed downward to the iconic “N” gracing people’s feet. It’s clear its heritage and quality product has made an impression on the city, but New Balance’s popularity stretches beyond townies in Boston. It has become a top running, baseball and lifestyle brand across the United States and is growing its popularity abroad.

Last month, we were invited to visit its new global headquarters, Boston Landing, and check out the hype behind its growing popularity. The top question on our minds: What's the future of tennis at New Balance?

“Fearlessly Independent means standing up to convention. We’ve always been an independent brand; we always do things because we feel as though they are the right things to do. That’s part of the joys of being a private company; you can make the right decisions for the long haul. For us, Fearlessly Independent is really the center of everything that we do, it’s our unique voice in the marketplace and it really just goes back to the notion of standing up to convention.”

-Chris Davis, VP Marketing/Sports Marketing

New Balance has historically been stereotyped as a “width only” tennis shoe company. You may have even seen a "Saturday Night Live" skit a while back featuring Zach Galifianakis. Over the past few years, New Balance tennis has reinvented its image, and although widths are still a consistent unique offering, its shoes now are all about style, innovation and performance. The 996, as worn by Milos Raonic, offers lightweight premium performance with a low-to-the ground ride and a modern knit upper. New Balance's commitment to style and performance continues into 2019, and a few new models will make their debuts.

Boston Landing is quickly developing into a hotspot for new shops, hotels, and of course all things New Balance. It already hosts the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins practice facilities and has plans to add a hydraulic track, one of only seven in the world. What's really unique about Boston Landing is its commitment to the bigger picture. The Davis family is huge on minimizing their carbon footprint, and made sure the main office building is Platinum LEED certified, the highest LEED rating available. 50% of the building is made with recycled materials. New Balance has a commitment to their community and the globe that stretches far past the desire to sell product.

New Balance produces more than 4 million pairs of shoes per year domestically, which allows it to invest in American workers and maintain its commitment to quality. We were lucky enough to visit the factory in Lawrence, Mass., and witness the people behind the brand doing what they do best: make shoes. What most people don't realize is how many people and steps it takes to make a carefully handcrafted pair of shoes. The upper alone is composed of as many as 30 different parts, all of which need to be cut from material and assembled!

Curious if your shoes were made in the USA? Check the label!

Over a course of a few days, we were able to witness New Balance's dedication to quality, to its employees, to its athletes and to its social responsibility. New Balance is the real deal, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for the brand in tennis. Chris Davis said it himself, “Tennis is absolutely a priority for us.”

What's the future of tennis at New Balance?

Already sponsoring powerhouse athletes like Milos Raonic, Nicole Gibbs, & Heather Watson, New Balance is "waiting to sign the right athletes both in the men’s and women’s sports, and should have some fun announcements for the tennis world in the next couple of months.”

-Chris Davis, VP Marketing/Sports Marketing