Monty Don, known for his role on the BBC program "Gardeners' World," has unveiled a new collaboration with sportswear brand New Balance, featuring trainers inspired by "wild gardens." This announcement comes shortly after Don, 71, revealed he was stepping down from the popular gardening show after 23 years.
The collaboration sees New Balance teaming up with London jewelry label Bleue Burnham to reimagine the iconic Made in UK 991v1 style. The design draws inspiration from the "wild garden" aesthetic, specifically referencing the Flimby Garden in Cumbria, an employee garden at one of New Balance's facilities intended as a restorative space.
Each trainer features a unique "wild garden" stitch, applied individually, meaning no two pairs will be identical. The collection will initially launch with a brown pigskin suede version on September 12 at 12 p.m. BST exclusively for the brand's mailing list via www.bleueburnham.com/. A second version, made from premium black leather, is scheduled for release in December.
Don's departure from "Gardeners' World" was announced earlier in the week. Speaking from his home, he stated that "now is the right time for a change." This announcement followed his earlier comments in March, where he expressed hopes of continuing with the show until at least 2028 and stated he couldn't imagine retiring.
Don had previously told Saga Magazine that while he considered his future with each contract renewal, he had always opted to continue. He noted that he enjoyed his work and did not envision a typical retirement involving activities like golf or crosswords.