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Lee vs New Balance: similarities and differences

Compare brand traits, similarities and differences.

Reference brand: Lee Swap brands

Lee

United States Founded 1889

Streetwear · Outdoor & functional · Trends & youth culture

New Balance

United States Founded 1906

Sporty & sportswear · Trends & youth culture · Streetwear

Similarities and differences

Shared traits

  • No shared traits are available.

Different traits

  • Sporty & sportswear

    New Balance shows a stronger emphasis

  • Streetwear

    New Balance shows a stronger emphasis

This pair is not included in the similar brands recommendations.

Trait comparison

  • Lee (solid line, circles)
  • New Balance (dashed line, squares)
Traits of Lee and New Balance, shown relative to each brand.
How to read the chart

Traits farther from the centre are more prominent within each brand. The chart uses the same relative display as the brand profile. Area does not indicate brand quality or absolute differences between brands.

Traits by category

Bar lengths show how prominent each trait is within each brand.

  • Lee
  • New Balance
Minimal & basics
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Polished & dressy
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Luxury & heritage
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Avant-garde & designer
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Decoration & playfulness
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Streetwear
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Trends & youth culture
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Sporty & sportswear
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand
Outdoor & functional
Lee：Relative prominence within the brand
New Balance：Relative prominence within the brand

Basic information

Field
Lee
New Balance
Country United States United States
Founded 1889 1906
Category Clothing Footwear
Other categories Bags Accessories Footwear Clothing Bags Accessories

— indicates information that is not available.

Brand profiles

Brand lines

Lee

  • Lee 101

    A premium line built around selvedge denim and workwear- and Western-inspired items, based on Lee’s ...

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  • Lee Vintage Modern

    A specialty denim collection rooted in archives, launched by Lee in 2017. Its core design approach i...

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  • Lee REISSUE

    Announced by Lee in 2019, this limited reissue collection selects early women’s products (models fir...

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  • Lee Extreme Motion

    Lee’s “Extreme Motion” collection is developed around stretch and mobility. It applies the same conc...

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  • LEE SPORT

    A sports-casual offshoot line developed under the LEE name. Introduced in the 1990s, it combined the...

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  • LEE PIPES

    Introduced by Lee in 1997, the “LEE PIPES” line targeted boys aged 8–12. It specialized in denim fit...

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New Balance

Collaborations

Lee

  • 2026-01-29

    FREAK'S STORE

    A special-order project featured in an official feature as “Lee for FREAK’S STORE.” Lee is an apparel brand focused on denim, but the available feature listings do not disclose details about individual products or their release dates.

  • 2025-10-10

    BEAMS

    A lamb leather jacket in the “DUNGAREES” style, which originated in the 1950s, was released as a Lee × BEAMS exclusive. It launched in October 2025.

  • 2024-11-14

    Alpha Industries

    A 2024 global collaboration with Lee, centered on the heritage of American workwear and durable everyday clothing shared by both brands. The collection features outerwear and pants combining denim, Alpha ripstop, and military specifications.

  • 2023-12-15

    DIESEL

    Following a December 2023 preview for Europe and Japan, Lee released hybrid jeans made from upcycled and deadstock materials as the first installment of DIESEL❤VES.

  • 2019-09-20

    TOGA

    A collaboration between TOGA and Lee. Based on the style of 1950s Lee shirts, it incorporates TOGA’s Western elements and includes Western shirts, docking jackets, and pants.

  • 2010-01-01

    Vivienne Westwood

    A collaboration with Lee under the name Vivienne Westwood Anglomania. The collection focuses on denim and jeans, and also includes T-shirts and jackets.

Lee collaborations

New Balance

  • 2026-02-20

    WTAPS

    WTAPS × New Balance “U1300WT / Made in USA 1300.” It is safest to treat the 2/20 date notation and the 3/6 announcement in Japan as region-specific information.

  • 2026-01-09

    BEAMS

    Their first apparel collaboration in the “Made in U.S.A.” series. Four styles, including crewneck sweatshirts, all made in the United States.

  • 2025-10-17

    JUNYA WATANABE MAN

    Across multiple seasons, they continued to announce JUNYA-exclusive sneakers, including 650 for 2023FW and 471 for 2025FW.

  • 2024-09-05

    Loro Piana

    A limited collaboration with New Balance. A special-edition sneaker based on the 990v6 and combining Loro Piana materials. Released on September 5, 2024, in select regions including North America and Europe.

  • 2024-05-15

    ISSEY MIYAKE

    ISSEY MIYAKE and New Balance announced their first collaborative sneaker project. It launched first in Japan on May 15, 2024, followed by a global release on June 14, 2024.

  • 2023-04-17

    COMME des GARÇONS

    Collaborations through HOMME and eYe JUNYA WATANABE MAN have covered both tech and retro styles, including Rainier, 1906R, and 990v6. The materials contrast leather and mesh.

New Balance collaborations

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