Peter Parker wears this New Balance 574 in Burgundy for €120 throughout the film
In the new Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland, everyone was watching the villains. Yet our eyes kept drifting down to Peter Parker’s feet. Because the character wears a pair of New Balance 574 sneakers in the “Burgundy” colourway from start to finish.
The New Balance 574, a quiet choice for an ordinary hero
Peter Parker is not the kind of character to show off in flashy sneakers. The 574 suits him perfectly: a understated, accessible shoe that doesn’t demand attention. His pair is completely worn in, the suede looking like it has survived as many scrapes as he has.
And yet, that is precisely what makes this model so endearing. The New Balance 574 is the kind of shoe that gets better with age. The more it wears, the more of a story it tells.
For someone like Peter Parker, who is desperate to stay anonymous, the choice makes complete sense. A discreet sneaker, priced at €120, that gives nothing away about the person wearing it.
A model born in 1988, designed by Steven Smith
The 574 launched in 1988. Its creator, Steven Smith, originally conceived it as an everyday running shoe, drawing on elements from the higher-end models of the Boston-born sportswear brand.
Over the decades, it moved well beyond performance footwear. It became one of the brand’s defining silhouettes, recognised far outside the world of sport.
“The 574 has always been THE New Balance sneaker that’s accessible to everyone.”
The silhouette that inspired the sneaker emoji on your iPhone
Even if you think you’ve never seen the 574, you’ve definitely come across it. It is, in fact, this very silhouette that inspired the sneaker emoji on your iPhone, a detail that says a great deal about its cultural status.
Its price of €120 also makes it a model that’s open to a wide audience. This is not a collector’s sneaker reserved for insiders. It’s an everyday shoe worn by millions of people around the world.
Seeing Peter Parker choose it in a global blockbuster only cements its status as a popular icon. The Boston brand didn’t need to pay for the placement: the character simply fits it naturally.
- The New Balance 574 was launched in 1988 by Steven Smith.
- It was originally designed as an everyday running shoe.
- The “Burgundy” colourway is the one worn by Peter Parker in the film.
- It retails for €120.
- Its silhouette inspired the sneaker emoji on iPhone.
Sneakers, a central element of the Spider-Man universe
Sneakers have always played an important role in the Spider-Man franchise. In Spider-Verse, Miles Morales wears the Air Jordan 1 High in the legendary “Chicago” colourway, laces perpetually undone.
The shoes proved so popular that Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 1 High “Origin Story” in late 2018, complete with reflective comic-book-inspired detailing and a glacier blue outsole.
New Balance and Spider-Man, a pairing that makes sense in 2026
In 2026, seeing the New Balance 574 on Tom Holland’s Spider-Man hits differently. The brand is riding a wave of strong popularity, and this placement in one of the most anticipated films of the year only amplifies its visibility further.
That said, the 574 didn’t need the big screen to establish itself. For decades, it has been a fixture of the global sneaker landscape. Its quiet confidence is precisely what makes it universal.
In that sense, Peter Parker and the New Balance 574 share the same philosophy: show up without trying to dominate. A worn-in sneaker, a masked hero, and a brand that has never needed to shout to be heard.
