Concepts Takes Inspiration From a Rare $1,000 Bill and an Old Collab for Its Latest New Balance Sneaker

Just like the New Balance 998 “C-Note” released in 2013 and again in 2023, Concepts‘ latest collaboration is all about that money.

The Concepts x New Balance 1000 “Milé” increases the denomination for its source of inspiration, as it looks to the obsolete $1,000 bill. More specifically, the source material is the 1890 $1,000 treasury note, aka “The Grand Watermelon,” which was given the nickname for its large green zeros on the back. One of these bills sold for $3.3 million in 2014, which is still the world record price for a piece of paper currency.

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The red seal on the front of the $1,000 bill gives way to the hot pink “1000” branding on the lateral toe, medial heel and tongue. Shades of white and green are then used throughout the sneaker, and Concepts branding appears on the tongue and heel, the latter in a gothic font. On the insole, you’ll find a repeating “Cncpts Currency” print.

For the packaging, Concepts moves forward to a more recent development in the history of currency. A $1,000 bill was part of the haul in a 1960s bank heist, after which banks began using dye packs to help identify the thief. Just such a stain is used for the bo’s graphic, and upon opening it you’ll have to dig through layers of “Cncpts Currency” tissue paper before you get to the kicks.

The final layer in the shoe’s lore is “Míle,” the Irish Gaelic word for “thousand.”

New Balance originally released the 1000 in 1999, and the running shoe with wavy panels defining its upper was brought out of the archives last year. The model wasn’t a major hit in its first run, but neither was the 2002 before being brought back with a different sole unit as the 2002R. New Balance has given the 1000 treatment of other hit retros in recent years by making it the subject of collaborations with Joe Freshgoods, Aimé Leon Dore, Kith and more.

The Concepts x New Balance 1000 “Milé” will release Friday, March 14, through Concepts’ website and stores. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, and a release through New Balance’s website is likely to follow.