Overview

• New Balance has confirmed the 1906L “Black Croc” patent-leather model (SKU U1906LCR) for a Fall 2025 release at $160, though a specific launch date remains unannounced.
• The shoe features an all-black patent leather upper embossed with a crocodile texture paired with grey heel N-ERGY units and white lateral branding.
• Beneath its formal loafer silhouette lies New Balance’s N-ERGY cushioning system, designed to deliver responsive shock absorption typical of the brand’s performance line.
• High-profile exposure peaked when Jaden Smith wore the patent-leather pair at the 2025 Met Gala, underscoring the silhouette’s crossover appeal between dress and athletic styles.
• Since debuting via a Junya Watanabe collaboration at Paris Fashion Week, the 1906L has polarized consumers even as New Balance signals further hybrid designs such as a moccasin-style 1890.