A significant subculture in British fashion history, terrace wear is a fashion movement that saw British football fans embrace European fashion, bringing designer style to football grounds nationwide.
In this blog, we’re highlighting the history, style and impact of terrace fashion, its retro-inspired resurgence and why Gola is the go-to brand for those wanting to elevate their terrace wear game in 2025.
Table of contents:
What is terrace wear? The origins of terrace style
Gola: A staple of terrace style
From stadiums to streetwear: Why terrace fashion is still relevant today
What is terrace wear? The origins of terrace style
Terrace wear or terrace fashion describes the fashion worn by football fans in football grounds or stadiums while cheering on their teams. Once solely associated with football and football fan fashion inside and outside the stadiums, today, these style references are experiencing a renaissance away from football.
Here’s a brief potted history of how it all began:
Terracewear: 1970s – 1990s
In the 1970s and ’80s, football in Liverpool and Manchester was thriving, and so were the first iterations of the terrace or ‘casual’ fashion. In Manchester, it was the Fred Perry-clad ‘Perry boys’, whereas in Liverpool, it was inspired by the stylish dressing of European football fans the Merseyside supporters had seen whilst following Liverpool in the European Cup.
Although towards the end of the ’80s, casual fashion dwindled, in the ’90s, it experienced a resurgence.The rise of Britpop and ‘lad culture’ magnified the casual style and made it fashionable once again.
But how did Gola become a key terracewear player?
Gola: A staple of terrace wear style
Gola has always been deeply rooted in British sportswear.
From the early 1900s, its focus was football boots, and after the war effort, this focus quickly returned.
During the 1960s and ’70s, Gola was a leading innovative sporting brand, kitting out top-performing football teams, creating footwear for athletes and sponsoring players. So, whilst casual fashion fans were looking towards Europe to find their fashion brands, Gola boots were a popular choice on the football pitches, adorning the feet of the footballing heroes these fans were following around Europe.
These two decades would also see Gola develop the first iterations of what would go on to become two iconic terrace fashion trainer staples. The Harrier, designed by Fred Dilley in 1968, and the Elan in 1973, were originally designed as training shoes and were met with instant success, but we’ll come back to those later.
Not thought of at the time as a terrace brand, during the 1970s, Gola was a sporting champion, beginning its expansion into sportswear and accessories and rapidly becoming a household name.
Gola in the 1980s
Gola continued its sporting prowess throughout the eighties, going on to sponsor fictional comic book footballing hero Roy Race, a.k.a Roy Of The Rovers, signing a deal with the Conference League and creating one of its most successful campaigns, ‘Put Wings On Your Feet’, referring to the iconic Gola wingflash.
Although towards the end of the ’80s, the brand’s success began to dwindle, the ’90s helped put Gola back into the limelight and solidify it as a staple of terracewear style.
Britpop, nostalgia and the Gallagher brothers
In the mid-1990s, Gola was acquired by the Jacobson Group and relaunched as a heritage brand, and the timing couldn’t have been better.
As Britpop and lad culture rose, the Gola Classics collection was launched. Iconic trainers such as the Harrier were reimagined, and leading icons of the Britpop era, such as Noel and Liam Gallagher and Paul Weller, couldn’t wait to have them on their feet. Gola became a terracewear staple, sliding seamlessly into the 1990s iteration of the casual aesthetic when retro football fashion was booming. Gola terrace trainers were here to stay.
From stadiums to streetwear: Why terrace fashion is still relevant today
In 2025, terrace fashion remains a true style reference.
Evolving beyond the football stadiums, social media trends marked a resurgence in football-inspired fashion and retro designs. As luxury brands continue to create designs that lean towards a growing desire for streetwear, it seems fitting that terrace fashion is returning.
Terrace fashion evokes memories of a nostalgic time for those who were part of it, whether during the heady days of the European football-following eighties, the lad culture and Britpop-influenced nineties, or the nostalgia retro-fashion loving noughties.
Fashion is cyclical, so it’s no wonder this tasteful trend is on everyone’s minds in 2025, particularly as many Britpop bands are reforming. Everyone is gearing up for the festival season, and what better way to dress for it than with a terrace-fashion classic on your feet?
These retro sportswear designs have a classic and wearable appeal that lasts, and thanks to Gola’s rich history and 120 years of experience as a heritage sporting brand, it is a key figure in the terrace wear evolution this time.
Gola’s Spring/Summer ’25 collection calls on its heritage designs, reimagining them in a rich colour palette that subtly nods toward terrace wear nostalgia. From the iconic Harrier to the eye-catching Elan, Gola calls upon its knowledge and experience to create classic and authentic terrace wear trainers with a modern twist, perfect for every terrace wear lover.
Explore the collection today to find your ideal pair.
Shop tasteful terrace-inspired trainers for men, women and children at Gola
Discover Gola’s latest heritage-inspired designs by browsing the complete men’s, women’s and kids’ Gola Classics collection and prepare to face the season in style.
