New Balance began using a high-strength polyester nanofibre from Japanese manufacturer Teijin in the insoles for its running shoes from the start of July.

Teijin has been making the product since 2008 and announced its partnership with New Balance in socks in January 2012.

High levels of friction properties of the nanofibre mean the new insoles can offer “outstanding slip resistance”, Teijin said at the time of the launch, preventing the wearer’s foot from sliding inside the shoe.

Nano-sized bumps on the surface raise frictional force and produce a surface area dozens of times greater than that of regular fibre, resulting in highly superior slip resistance. It also has high moisture absorbency and diffusion.