One of the game’s most highly anticipated crossovers returns for their ‘S026’ drop, as New Balance and Stone Island call upon stars Bukayo Saka and Endrick to front their latest capsule in style.
The lines between football and fashion continuously blur these days. Terrace culture, tunnel fits, post-match drip… it all feeds into the same ecosystem now. And right in the middle of that overlap sits New Balance x Stone Island, quietly (and consistently) getting it right, sitting perfectly at that intersection, driving forward a shared identity with every drop. On-pitch, off-pitch, pre-game, post-game… wherever you land, there’s something here that makes sense.
At its core, the collection leans into a mutual obsession with performance and material innovation. Stone Island brings that deep-rooted fabric experimentation, New Balance delivers the technical sporting DNA, and together they revisit football through a distinctly modern lens, while still nodding heavily to that golden era of the ‘90s.
You see it straight away in the on-pitch kit. The jersey and shorts come in engineered jacquard with a bespoke graphic that fuses the Stone Island Compass, NB logo, and a subtle two-stripe motif. It’s bold, but not loud.
Then there’s the off-pitch story, which arguably feels even more dialled in. The ABZORB 1890 sneaker is a standout, pulling from New Balance’s archive (that 2002 sole unit is a classic) while layering in Stone Island’s technical edge. Micro ripstop uppers, no-sew overlays, and those subtle reflective hits give it that “if you know, you know” appeal.
The apparel follows the same logic. The Nylon Prismatico-TC jacket is one of those pieces that does all the talking without trying too hard. Lightweight nylon bonded with a polyurethane film that gives it this fluid, almost liquid look. It’s functional, but visually sharp in a way that only Stone Island really nails.
Elsewhere, there’s a strong focus on adaptability. Reversible track jackets and trousers in resin-coated ripstop offer versatility depending on mood or setting. And the softer pieces – jerseys, fleece, tees – are garment-dyed in muted juniper green and ivory tones that keep everything feeling cohesive.
What makes this collection land so sweetly isn’t just the individual pieces, though. It’s the consistency. There’s a clear visual language running throughout, grounded in archival references and natural tones, but pushed forward with modern fabrication and construction.
More than anything, it reinforces where football culture is right now. It’s no longer confined to the pitch. It’s a style reference, a design influence, a whole identity. And partnerships like New Balance x Stone Island aren’t just reflecting that shift, they’re actively shaping it.
The Stone Island x New Balance Summer '26 capsule will be available from 4 June in selected Stone Island stores and online at stoneisland.com
