New Balance Accelerator Backpack

In 1906, William J. Riley, an Irish immigrant, founded the New Balance Arch Support Company in the Boston area, manufacturing arch supports and other accessories designed to improve shoe fit.  His first product, a flexible arch support, was designed with three support points to provide greater balance and comfort in the shoe. It is believed that Riley came up with the name “New Balance” by observing chickens in his yard and demonstrated the way his arch supports worked by keeping a chicken foot on his office desk. He explained to customers that the chicken’s three-pronged foot resulted in perfect balance.

Today, New Balance manufactures a range of shoes and apparel for runners, other athletes and non-athletes.

New Balance maintains a manufacturing presence in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom for the European market, where they produce some of their popular models.