Behind the Seams at New Balance Headquarters

The Kinnect Foundation partnered with New Balance for a special Behind the Seams session, marking our first collaboration with a company outside of Kith. This event invited the Kinnect Scholars Program's first cohort to New Balance's headquarters in Boston for a two-day immersive experience. The students explored various facilities, including the track, basketball court, product testing labs, development center and more, gaining insights into the company's operations. New Balance employees shared their roles, experiences, and how they contribute to the business, aiming to inspire the students. This session was uniquely tailored to New Balance's environment and staff, offering a fresh perspective beyond Kinnect’s usual program.

At the end of the session, the students also had the opportunity to visit New Balance’s flagship store and meet with the retail team. As a generous gesture, New Balance allowed each scholar to choose one sneaker from the entire store to take home for free, which brought immense joy and gratitude to the students.

On the second day of the Kinnect Foundation's Behind the Seams session, the scholars visited New Balance's Lawrence Factory. There, they had the opportunity to observe the shoe-making process from start to finish. Wearing protective gear to fully immerse themselves in the experience, the students watched skilled workers craft shoes live, providing them with a firsthand look at the intricacies of manufacturing.