Is the Palermo Silhouette PUMA's Answer to the Terrace Trend?

When you look back at sneaker trends so far this year, it's fair to say there have been some surprising shifts. With basketball sneakers (such as the Air Jordan 1) on the decline and the cost of living crisis having a vice grip on our bank accounts, sneakerheads have turned elsewhere for inspiration and have seemingly landed on terrace styles.

Rooted in casual culture and football-related fashion, terrace styles have seen a resurgence over the past year or so. This is partially thanks to the likes of Gucci and Wales Bonner signing off on collaborations with the Gazelle and Samba silhouettes. The 2022 World Cup and the rise of blokecore have also propelled this style firmly onto our radar, and now it seems PUMA wants to reintroduce itself to the mix.

Having been released originally back in 1980, the PUMA Palermo was a favourite among the casual crowd. Up and down the terraces of football stadiums across Europe, the Palermo was worn alongside its adidas counterparts as somewhat of an unofficial uniform of supporters. Now, over 40 years later, the Palermo returns fit for a new crowd.

This latest model is essentially an archetype of its ‘80s terrace predecessor, defined to firmly fit in with the ebb and flow of fashion in 2023. Atop a retro gum sole, a timeless low-cut construction flaunts a colour-blocked finish as well as a leather formstrip complete with gold foil PUMA branding.

Simplistic but effective, the design itself serves as a reminder of PUMA's rich footballing history and the brand's willingness to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of fashion. It remains to be seen if the PUMA Palermo will give adidas a run for its money, but given its intrinsic football DNA, we'd say it's off to a great start.