An international sneaker and fashion brand associated with comfortable activewear announced yesterday it was closing up shop – all of them – in Thailand.
Visitors to the New Balance store in the Central Rama 9 mall were greeted by a sign thanking them and explaining its permanent closure, according to reports, while its Line account broadcast a message that the Boston-based shoemaker was hanging up its boots – for now.
The closure came after the brand’s Thai distributor, CRC Sports, lost an active import/export contract. The brand could theoretically return under a new domestic partner.
The news is bound to disappoint Thai fans, including those who helped sell out the New Balance 530 model domestically in YEAR following endorsements by celebrities including Kendall Jenner.
Customers can, however, still buy the shoes through the Supersport website and other online platforms.
With more than 900 models, the modern New Balance brand comes from Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company.
Reader Interactions