BALLY SWITZERLAND VINTAGE RUNNING SHOES - NAVY AND CREAM, CIRCA 1980S-1990S

A PAIR OF VINTAGE ATHLETIC RUNNING SHOES BY THE RENOWNED SWISS LUXURY GOODS MANUFACTURER BALLY, REPRESENTING THE BRAND'S FORAY INTO PERFORMANCE FOOTWEAR DURING THE 1980S-1990S ERA. THESE SHOES EXEMPLIFY THE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF THE PERIOD, COMBINING FUNCTIONAL ATHLETIC CONSTRUCTION WITH THE REFINED AESTHETIC SENSIBILITIES CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BALLY BRAND.

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:
- PRIMARY MATERIAL: SOFT NAVY LEATHER UPPERS WITH COLOUR-BLOCKED CREAM LEATHER PANELS TO HEEL COLLAR AND TOE BOX
- SECONDARY MATERIALS: NAVY CANVAS MESH PANELS TO MIDFOOT AND VAMP, PROVIDING BREATHABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
- SOLE: CREAM-COLOURED RUBBER WITH DISTINCTIVE WAFFLE PATTERN TREAD, TYPICAL OF RUNNING SHOE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS ERA
- LINING: CREAM FABRIC THROUGHOUT, WITH ORIGINAL BALLY BRANDING TO TONGUE AND HEEL COLLAR
- FASTENING: ORIGINAL CREAM FABRIC LACES WITH METAL EYELETS

IDENTIFICATION:
- MAKER: BALLY, SWITZERLAND
- MAKERS MARK: EMBROIDERED BALLY SWITZERLAND LABEL TO TONGUE. HEEL COLLAR STAMPED WITH BALLY BRANDING. INSOLE MARKED: A.9E/US10D NSRI GAVINO T-M-FA125. MADE IN PHO MARKING CONFIRMS PRODUCTION LOCATION.
- PERIOD: CIRCA 1980S-1990S, BASED ON SOLE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION METHOD, AND LABEL STYLE

CONDITION: FAIR CONDITION CONSISTENT WITH VINTAGE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR THAT HAS SEEN GENUINE USE. THE LEATHER UPPERS DISPLAY NATURAL CREASING AND MINOR SURFACE SCUFFING FROM WEAR. CANVAS MESH PANELS SHOW AGE-RELATED DISCOLOURATION AND LIGHT SOILING. THE RUBBER SOLE EXHIBITS SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE HEEL AND FOREFOOT AREAS WITH VISIBLE TREAD LOSS, INDICATING SUBSTANTIAL USE ON PAVEMENT. THE CREAM FABRIC LINING SHOWS YELLOWING TYPICAL OF AGED TEXTILES AND MINOR STAINING. ORIGINAL CREAM LACES SHOW FRAYING AT THE ENDS. THE HEEL COLLAR PADDING REMAINS STRUCTURALLY SOUND DESPITE COMPRESSION WEAR. NO MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IS EVIDENT, THOUGH THE SOLE JUNCTION AT THE HEEL SHOWS SIGNS OF POTENTIAL SEPARATION AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT BEFORE EXTENDED WEAR.

PROVENANCE: PRIVATE COLLECTION. THESE SHOES REPRESENT A SPECIFIC MOMENT IN BALLY'S PRODUCT HISTORY WHEN THE SWISS LUXURY BRAND EXPANDED INTO THE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR MARKET, COMPETING WITH ESTABLISHED SPORTS BRANDS DURING THE 1980S-1990S RUNNING SHOE BOOM.

NOTE: VINTAGE ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR OF THIS AGE AND CONDITION IS SUITABLE FOR DISPLAY, COLLECTION, OR RESTORATION BY A SPECIALIST SHOE RESTORER. THE CONSTRUCTION QUALITY AND BRAND HERITAGE MAKE THESE SHOES OF INTEREST TO VINTAGE SPORTSWEAR COLLECTORS AND BALLY ENTHUSIASTS.

Item Size: Height: 12cm, Width: 30cm, Depth: 20cm, Weight: 2Kg

Condition: Fair - Refer To Images

163B
991747+3

Location of item: 4-10 Keon Parade, Thomastown, VIC, Australia