New Balance's new 'troafer' team-up with Ganni is the most Marmite autumn shoe launch
Love them or hate them, the latest Ganni x New Balance collaboration is one of the most divisive shoe launches of autumn, but would you wear them?
New Balance has teamed up with Scandi fashion brand GANNI for another collaboration, and this time, it's dividing internet opinions.
The two brands have launched a pair of 'troafers', a hybrid shoe that blends the sporty silhouette of a trainer with the polished finish of a loafer. The result is a statement-making style that definitely sparks conversations.
Potentially the most Marmite shoe drop of the season, the collaboration is the perfect combination of GANNI's Scandi-cool edge and New Balance's cult trainer status, even if the aesthetic isn't to everyone's taste.
Whether you love the idea of a shoe that ticks both comfort and tailoring, or you're not quite convinced, there's no denying this shoe has got everyone talking. And it's certainly split opinion on our fashion team with half of us (myself included) tempted into purchasing a pair, and the other half completely against them.
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The GANNI x New Balance 1906L Loafers are priced at £160, which is on the pricey side for New Balance but definitely more affordable for GANNI.
The brands say the 'troafer' has been designed to blur lines between athleisure and classic style. Built on a chunky rubber sole, the trainer/loafer design promises all-day wearability while still making a strong style statement.
GANNI's playful design aesthetic definitely shines through on this pair, from the eye-catching snake print and vibrant colour palette to the metal butterfly on the strap. While the silver accents and athletic sole bring the New Balance feel.
Comments on GANNI's Instagram are split with one user writing: "these are so bad please no", and a second adding: "ERM?! These are perfection. No notes". Are 'troafers' going to become the biggest shoe trend of autumn?
These brands aren't the only ones launching controversial shoes this year. UGG's latest sheepskin ballet flats caused conversation. The brand dropped its Zora Ballet Flat, a hybrid design that combines UGG's signature sheepskin lining with the trending silhouette of a ballet pump. The result is a shoe that is cosy, fashionable and controversial.
Fashion fans are split. Some praise the design as the perfect blend of comfort and trend, while others are less convinced. Some are in the middle, hailing the shoes as 'ugly cute'.
While high-street brand H&M dropped a pair of faux fur heels, shoppers compared them to "hobbit feet."
The quirky design combines classic court heels with fluffy faux fur detailing, and one X user has claimed H&M is "not the first brand trying to make them happen."