New Balance 574

Grey

Founded by William J. Riley in 1906, New Balance started small, producing highly flexible, three-point arch supports for those that suffered discomfort wearing shoes, all inspired by the daily balancing acts performed by Williams’ own backyard chickens as they nimbly navigated the coop. Chasing supportive, innovative comfort from the moment it was born over a century ago, New Balance would become a sporting shoe manufacturer of import among both athletes and basketballers, loved for its specialist footwear.

Rolling on to 1972, under new owner Jim Davis, New Balance foresaw a shift in the market. Hoping to ride the wave of casual style and streetwear, they began a push for leisure time products and comfy, all-day pieces that would eventually be sought-after from coast to coast and beyond, all renowned for their quality and comfort. From retro-inspired icons such as the 327 and 420 to the newer Fresh Foam cushioning technology pieces of today, New Balance has never stopped developing and has a deep collection of classic leather and suede silhouettes that will always look and feel superb.

From Sergio Tacchini tracksuits and adidas Sambas to Weekend Offender parkas and Umbro bucket hats, our Terrace Culture collection features the retro icons you know and love alongside more modern interpretations of the Casuals style.

Terrace culture has its origins in the overseas adventures of British football fans in the late 70s and early 80s, with fashion-conscious supporters bringing some of the best gear they encountered on European away days back to the UK. Combining the classiest tops and trainers from abroad with staples from closer to home, they created a look that’s persisted through the decades and spread across the world.

With roots in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and London and regional variations around the country, there’s a vast mixture of influences at play in terrace culture. As you’d expect from a scene that emerged out of club football, it’s competitive by nature. That means no hard and fast rules as to what goes with what – the only aim is to look sharper than anyone else.

Nail the fundamentals and the success story writes itself. In the 80s, New Balance had a few premium performance runners making their way across the market, and buoyed by their success, designed a hybrid shoe for the expanding lifestyle audience. They borrowed from the 575 and 576, pulling out all the best bits and producing something that was more than the sum of its parts. There was no big advertising campaign, no fanfare, but this shoe hit the sweet spot in a way not many had done before, offering supreme ENCAP comfort and traction to its rapidly expanding audience of enthusiasts. Standing the test of time like few others, it was over 15 years into its life before any re-designs were even considered, and the 574 is one of, if not the most iconic of NB’s shoes. If you’re looking to have a bit of NB history on your feet, you’ll find all manner of modernised silhouettes and new colourways to achieve your own comfy daily style.

Rubber outsole.
Suede/mesh upper.