New Balance mocked for new trainer loafers with shoppers claiming they're the 'worst' shoes ever seen... but would YOU wear them?

New Balance has raised eyebrows with its latest shoe design that sees its classic trainer remodelled as a loafer.

Founded in Boston, the sportswear brand has garnered a massive audience with its reliable trainers, appealing to Boomers and Generation Z alike.

However, the brand's new creation, developed in partnership with Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe, has caused heads to turn - and not for the right reasons.

The esteemed designer is known to mastermind avant-garde designs, and his creations often cost upwards of £1,000.

Now, his trainer loafers have triggered a storm on social media, with viewers unable to wrap their heads around the 'grandad' shoes, not to mention the alleged £155 price tag.

New Balance have proved they can do more than just sportwear with their latest Avant-garden design - trainer loafers (pictured) 

While the shoes are not scheduled to go on sale later this year, according to What'sTheJam, photographs of the new design leaked online. 

The trainers come in silver and grey and have the appearance of sports shoes while being shaped like loafers.

However, after photographs of the shoe surfaced online, viewers quickly voiced their concern over the design.

One said: 'This is what happens when the ultimate dad shoe manufacturer gets too confident and thinks they can just branch out to grandad shoes.'

A second joked : 'Thank you for making these for my 1983 feet.' A third wrote: 'Those are the ugliest trainers I have ever seen.'

Chiming in on the backlash, a fourth user took to the comment section and said: 'Never seen anything worse.' 

MailOnline have reached out to New Balance for comment.

It comes after fashionistas have raved about the ballet flat sneaker. The ballet flat sneaker is a combination that looks equal part hyper-feminine and streetwear ready.

The silver and white shoes are yet to be released, but they've already caused a storm on social media 

Created in partnership with Japanese fashion designer, Junya Watanabe, the shoes blend sportswear and business attire 

Designers like Sandy Liang, Rombaut, JW Pei and even Skechers all have funky, chunky footwear creations that are sure to be summer's hottest trend.

Balletcore has been trending for the last few years, with celebrities wearing feminine pink wrap tops, nude tights, tutus, leg warmers, corsets, ribbons and bows.

Bella Hadid donned legwarmers and Emily Ratajkowski went full Nutcracker in a white tutu, and Gen Z is fawning over classic ballet flats.

But now, instead of the super flat bottom that can lead to foot problems like bunions, according to podiatrists, these balletcore shoes have super chunky comfortable soles.

Dublin-born fashion designer Simone Rocha kicked off the craze in September 2020 with the ballet tracker and has been changing up the materials ever since, and opted for an even more durable sole over time.

The shoes, which feature silver and white material, are said to be released in shops later this year 

After photographs of the shoes reached social media, users flocked to share their thoughts - but many were unimpressed 

Rocha's creations retail for about $1,000, so women on TikTok have been hunting for more affordable offerings, and documenting their 'chunky ballet shoe' search and how they're styling them.

Creators like Amy Jane Garrity and Catherine Anne Chiang have shared TikTok videos about how to style the sporty sneaks.

Paris-based brand Rombaut is another designer of the flat meets sneaker, calling it their 'future-forward take on the ballerina shoe' - and shoppers adore the sweet style, which has sold out on its website repeatedly.

The Aura vegan sneaker in pink satin is covered in bows and retails for €380, or $412, and it's still hard to get after launching four years ago.

The brand, led by founder and creative director Mats Rombaut, makes designs in red velvet and covered in silver studs for a little edge that have been described as sexy orthopedic shoes.

Celebrities including Doja Cat, Pink Pantheress, Bella Hadid, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus are all fans of the sustainable, biodegradable and gender-neutral brand.