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Aminé is bringing a piece of his Oregon upbringing to New Balance with his first MADE in USA collaboration, the Aminé x New Balance 992 “Outdoor School.” The sneaker pays homage to MESD Outdoor School, a longtime Oregon program that introduced generations of students to the outdoors.
For Aminé, the connection is deeply personal. Outdoor School has operated in Oregon since 1957, giving sixth-grade students the opportunity to spend a week at one of the state’s campsites learning about the natural world. Aminé attended the program at Milk Creek, where he received a wood cookie to personalize with his name and charms. That keepsake eventually became the inspiration behind the collaboration.
The story is told directly by Aminé on the wrapping paper, which features a handwritten message detailing his memories of Outdoor School:
Outdoor School has been operating since 1957 in Oregon. It’s one of the most innovative field science programs in the country growing up everyone knew when you got to 6th grade. You’d get to leave school for a week to go to one of their many campsites to learn about soil, water, plants, and animals. They took your flip phone away and any electronic devices so that you could fully immerse yourself in the outdoors (Very Oregonian). I packed my sleeping bag and hopped on the biggest yellow school bus to head to Milk Creek. As we arrived they gave each of us a wood cookie to write our names on and instructed us to personalize our necklaces with charms, small trinkets, and anything we felt like adding to the very personal item. At the time it was basically just our name tags… but now it represents so much nostalgia and memories of home. I’m so happy I’ve kept mine till this day because I don’t think this special collaboration with New Balance would have ever happened if I didn’t see it still hanging on my bedroom door 3 years ago when I was home for Christmas. As an Oregonian it makes me so proud to be able to tell this story because I know how much ODS has done for our community, Outdoor School was my introduction to the outdoors, new friends, and my overall interests now as an adult. You don’t need money to enjoy mother earth (but you do need $220 MSRP for these shoes). Now go and personalize your wood cookie!!!!! !!!! <3<3<3
The 992 is dressed in reddish-brown hues across a mix of mesh, suede, and patent leather. Aminé branding lands on the heels, while Club Banana branding appears on the tongues and the Outdoor School logo is printed on the insoles.
The Oregon theme continues through the accessories and packaging. A wood cookie hangtag comes with “Horizon Cabin” branding, while the sneaker arrives in a fishing tackle box-inspired package. A set of charms featuring a frog, compass, whistle, slug, and fish is also included, allowing wearers to personalize their own wood cookie-inspired keepsake.
The Aminé x New Balance 992 “Outdoor School” drops October 2nd. Sign up for updates on clubbanana.com and stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for more.
Aminé x New Balance 992 “Outdoor School”
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Price: $220 USD
