The Gola brand was born of humble beginnings in a small factory in 1905. Since then the brand has experienced a rollercoaster ride, surviving two World Wars and various other trials and tribulations to blossom in the 1960s and 70s as the pre-eminent sportswear brand. Today Gola keeps true to its roots and has become one of the most enduring and endearing sportswear and fashion brands in the UK.

On the 22nd of May 1905 one of the UK’s most nostalgic sports brand was born, since then the brand has had a commitment to style, craftsmanship and quality of product that the sector with which it resides often lacks. Gola firmly believes anyone buying a Gola product should feel like they’re buying a snippet of British nostalgia.

The brand has had a strong link to football since its creation with its first ever advertising campaign slogan reading: ‘Gola means goals’ in the 1930s. Marketing strategies have centred on the game since then. The brand often gifted physiotherapists at football matches with heavily branded holdalls; their payment for their gifts was to ensure that the bag got maximum TV coverage when the therapist went onto the pitch to help an injured player.

The item that most people associate with the brand today, however, is the Harrier shoe which came to life in 1968 and went on to become the must-have item of the 1970s. Advances in show design meant that shoes could be more lightweight and aerodynamic and so the Harrier shoe was designed to be perfect for a range of sporting activities including Squash, Badminton and gym training. Since 1968 the shoe has been reproduced in over 200 different colour combinations.

Gola has been part of some of the UK’s biggest sporting achievements including the 1968 World Cup win, David Bedford’s 10,000m record breaking time. The brand has also dressed prominent figures in the music and entertainment world like Noel Gallagher, Jude Law, Coldplay and Robbie Williams, thus solidifying its role as a British sports fashion brand with heritage and purpose. Collaborations with eBoy and Christian Lacroix have also aided the brand in reaching out into the fashion arena like other major sport brands.

After over 100 years of service to British sports and fashion, Gola remains a prominent fixture within the sector.

Words by Jordan McDowell.  Images courtesy of Gola.

Tickets are still available for our Evening With Harvey Jacobson, managing director of Gola, on Wednesday the 15th of September. Click here for more information and to book your tickets.

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