# Literature-Inspired Sneakers The Latest New Balance Collection Celebrates American Authors By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-06-23 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-collection References: [sneakernews](http://sneakernews.com/2014/06/05/new-balance-unveils-made-usa-authors-collection/) & [bostonmagazine](http://www.bostonmagazine.com/fashion-style/blog/2014/06/09/new-balance-makes-sneakers-based-best-american-literature/) In the spirit of Independence Day, you'd expect a New Balance collection to have a lot of stars and stripes, or something that looks a lot like the recently unveiled J.Crew and New Balance sneaker collaboration in bold red, white and blue. However, the New Balance Authors Collection takes a different approach to celebrating America, using the many great literary works of American novelists as inspiration for the [New Balance 998s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/990v4-2). There are several different parts to the collection, including a series of shoes designed after 'Bespoke Authors, 'Distinct Authors' and 'Connoisseur Authors,' paying tribute to great tales like Moby Dick. The sneakers are all [made in the USA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-in-usa-2) and are set to go on sale for about $300, starting on July 1st. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Literature-inspired Sneakers:** The trend of creating sneakers inspired by literary works opens up opportunities for collaborations between fashion brands and literature publishers. - **American Authors Collection:** The trend of creating collections that pay tribute to American authors allows for the fusion of fashion and literary culture, providing unique storytelling opportunities. - **Made in the USA Sneakers:** The trend of promoting locally-made products, like the New Balance Authors Collection sneakers, presents opportunities for brands to highlight sustainability and support local economies. ### Where This Applies - **Fashion Industry:** The fashion industry can capitalize on the trend of literature-inspired sneakers by partnering with authors and publishers to create unique and limited-edition collections. - **Publishing Industry:** The publishing industry can explore collaborations with fashion brands to create merchandise inspired by literary works, providing new revenue streams and expanding their audience reach. - **Local Manufacturing Industry:** The local manufacturing industry can benefit from the trend of promoting locally-made sneakers, like the New Balance Authors Collection, by offering production and distribution services to fashion brands looking to emphasize the 'Made in the USA' label. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vibrant Sportswear Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-in-usa-season-3.md) - [Money-Inspired Footwear Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-concepts-x-new-balance-1000.md) - [Navy Blue-Inspired Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-in-usa-990v6.md) - [Green High-Performance Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biblioteca-2000.md) - [Vibrantly Inspired Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/northern-lights-sneakers.md) - [Earthy Tonal Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-in-usa-2.md) - [Collaborative Mixed-Material Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joe-freshgoods-11.md) - [Celebratory New Year Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-610.md) - [Festive Vibrant Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/990v4-1.md)